A drug dealer who led a 27-strong gang that flooded the streets of Preston with crack and heroin has been jailed for nine years and six months.
Karl Brown, 40, of Bleasdale Street East, Preston, was sentenced this week after a court heard how money from his enterprise funded lavish holidays to Brazil, Turkey and the UAE. A police raid on his home in Preston uncovered £40,000 in cash alongside a mobile phone linking him to the Kyle line.
Brown and his associate Efosa Gelmini supplied crack and heroin around the clock in Preston through a network of dealers and runners. Operating from Ribbleton, they ran multiple drug lines and sent bulk text messages advertising 'fat 10s', 'proper half Gs' and 'best/biggest about' between August 2023 and June 2025.
Drug Lines and Evidence
The lines included Batman, Bigman, Omar, Kyle, Ironman, Slim, Nigel, Ed and Salford. Telling users they had 'new grafters', the gang sent out a message that they were 'back proper'. Alongside recordings the gang filmed of themselves selling on the streets, footage from the operation showed gang members handling large quantities of cocaine and counting cash.
The raid on Brown's home took place on June 13, 2025. A search of a separate address linked to Brown saw a large amount of Class A drugs seized. Also recovered were individual street wraps hidden in the attic under insulation, a cocaine press and a machete.
Gelmini, who also ran his own 'Ace' line operating in Manchester, acted as a major supplier of cocaine and heroin to various organised crime groups in Preston. He frequently travelled between Preston and Manchester to drop off orders. Telephony evidence showed he was in regular contact with managers of the various deal lines, and wraps of Class A drugs alongside numerous phones were seized during a police search.
Sentencing and Police Response
A number of addresses in Preston were raided by officers in June 2025, with searches finding large quantities of drugs and cash seized. With 27 people charged, sentencing has taken place over a 10-month period.
Det Insp Richard Clancy of Lancashire Police said: "These organised crime gangs brought misery to our communities by operating multiple drugs lines and fuelling the illegal supply of cocaine and heroin on our streets.
"Thanks to our hard work and relentless efforts, 24 members have now been given jail sentences for a combined total of more than 100 years.
"We will continue to target those who profit from drug dealing, dismantle criminal networks and bring those responsible before the courts to face justice."
Full List of Sentences
Karl Brown, 40, of Bleasdale Street East, Preston, was jailed for nine years and six months. Efosa Gelmini, 23, of Leyburn Road, Manchester, was jailed for nine years. Marian Schiopu, 28, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six years and three months. Nicky Appleton, 34, of Leek Street, Preston, was jailed for nine years and eight months. Matthew Chambers, 32, of Hudson Road, Blackpool, was jailed for six years. Liam Farnworth, 28, of Brookhouse Street, Preston, was jailed for five years and six months. Denis Fisher, 53, of Wilbraham Street, Preston, was jailed for six years and nine months. John Miller, 33, of Shakespeare Road, Preston, was jailed for five years and eight months.
Christopher Batstone, 26, of Milner Street, Preston, was jailed for five years and six months. Daniel Smith, 24, of Whitby Place, Preston, received five years and six months' imprisonment. David McGowan, 37, of Ripon Terrace, Preston, was jailed for four years and 10 months. Regan Toms, 27, of no fixed abode, was jailed for four years and six months. Oliver Lavery, 23, of Dixons Farm Mews, Preston, was jailed for four years. Kevin Murphy, 42, of Hammonds Row, Preston, was jailed for three years and nine months. Peter Hellewell, 47, of Gisburn Road, Preston, was jailed for three years and six months. Jaequarn Silcott, 22, of Oxford Street, Preston, was jailed for three years and six months.
Jessica Smith, 32, of no fixed abode, was jailed for three years. Zaine Hastie, 22, of Gisburn Road, Preston, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. Brandon White, 19, of Wharfedale Avenue, Preston, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. Sarah Myers, 40, of Gisburn Road, Preston, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. Adam Henshaw, 19, of Mason Hill View, Preston, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. Jack Dearle, 20, of Exe Street, Preston, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Tracey Hankin, 54, of Wilbraham Street, Preston, was jailed for two years and four months after being convicted of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Stuart Farnworth, 53, of English Martyrs Place, Preston, was jailed for 18 months after being convicted of assisting an organised crime group. Three youths from Preston, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were given Youth Rehabilitation Orders.
