A CAREER criminal who ran two gangs bringing drugs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds into Devon has been jailed for 18 years.
Bar boss Seamus Murphy, aged 43, watched his cocaine operation smashed by police and simply switched to trafficking amphetamine.
Seven others in the two gangs have been jailed for a total of 37 years at Plymouth Crown Court.
Judge Geoffrey Mercer told Murphy: "You are a career criminal. You make your money for crime and you were organising the supply of both these drugs into Plymouth."
Murphy, of Windermere Crescent, Crownhill, was jailed for 13 years for conspiracy to supply the Class A drug between September 11 and April 2012. He was given another five years for plotting to supply amphetamine in July and August 2012.
Murphy, who has already served two long jail sentences for dealing drugs, had denied both offence but was found guilty in July after a four-week trial.
Andrew Lightfoot, aged 55, of Martin Lynch-Collins, aged 59, Christopher Fitzgerald, aged 50, and 28-year-old Robert Fitzgerald plotted together to bring the Class A drug from London.
Lightfoot, of Addington South, Liskeard, was jailed for nine years and Lynch-Collins, of Headland Park, Greenbank, was handed eight years.
Both had denied the same offence but were also found guilty alongside Murphy.
Christopher Fitzgerald, of Grannys Green, Bodmin, was jailed for eight years and eight months and Londoner Robert Fitzgerald was given seven years and four months. Both had admitted their part in the plot.
Gavin Moffatt, aged 58, denied conspiracy but admitted his Callington home was used to cut the drugs. He was given a suspended prison sentence.
The court heard that police seized a kilo of cocaine with a street value of about £45,000 and £20,000 in cash from Robert Fitzgerald and Lynch-Collins in April 2012.
But officers tracked 16 separate trips where the drug may have been brought to Plymouth from London over the proceeding nine months. Cocaine was taken to Liskeard on the train and cut in Callington before being taken to Plymouth and Bodmin for sale.
Judge Mercer estimated that the amount of cocaine brought from the capital was about 10 kilos – worth about £450,000.
In the second drugs ring, Murphy again organised runs into Devon and Cornwall.
Ashley Paffett, from Plymouth, acted as the courier, bringing the drugs down from Merseyside on July 31, 2012. Liverpudlians Kevin Clark and Robert Henry were riding shotgun. Police stopped their Ford Focus on the M5 near Cullompton at 12.50am on August 1.
It contained ten kilos of cocaine, with a purity of four per cent. Divided into deals, the amphetamine had a street value of about £100,000.
Clark, aged 26, of Cicely Street, Liverpool, was jailed for three years plus an extra 12 months for fraud, possession of a knife and affray outside the Plymouth area.
Henry, aged 30, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Paffett had previously been jailed for two years.
Judge Mercer estimated that the gang had brought a total of about 20 kilos into Plymouth, including previous drug runs.
Mark Worsley, for Murphy, said there was no evidence of him living the "high life".
He argued that he had held a significant rather than a leading role in the gangs.
Mr Worsley said he had done well since being remanded in prison, achieving enhanced status.
Detective Sergeant Stuart Gilroy said after the case: "This is another example which shows that Devon and Cornwall Police will go to great lengths to stem the flow of drugs into the region, bring those involved to justice and seize the proceeds of their criminality.
"We are satisfied with the sentences delivered today and hope this serves as a deterrent to those considering trafficking drugs into Devon and Cornwall."
The convictions were secured under Operation Rosco, which was a long term, covert investigation into the supply of cocaine and amphetamine into Devon and Cornwall.
Fifteen defendants in total have been sentenced under Operation Rosco. The majority were sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court today.
Detective Sergeant Stuart Gilroy, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer from the Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Team, said: "This was a long and complex investigation which included Devon and Cornwall, Liverpool and London. It has involved the detailed examination of the movements of those involved which included surveillance across the country.
"During the investigation Devon and Cornwall Police worked closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) who provided professional and invaluable assistance and resources without whom a successful conclusion may not have been possible. I would like to extend my thanks to them for the work they did on Operation Rosco.
"This is another example which shows that Devon and Cornwall Police will go to great lengths to stem the flow of drugs into the region, bring those involved to justice and seize the proceeds of their criminality.
"We are satisfied with the sentences delivered today and hope this serves as a deterrent to those considering trafficking drugs into Devon and Cornwall."
The sentences given to the defendants are as follows:
Seamus Murphy was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for conspiracy to supply cocaine and amphetamine.
The following men have been sentenced for conspiracy to supply cocaine:
Christopher Fitzgerald – eight years and eight months
Robert Fitzgerald – seven years and four months
Martin Lynch-Colins – eight years
Andrew Lightfoot – nine years
The following men have been sentenced for conspiracy to supply amphetamine:
Ashly Paffett – two years
Robert Henry – two years suspended for 2 years
Kevin Clark – three years
Kevin Blaney – four years and nine months
Derek Hunter – three years and four months
David Sabine – sentencing postponed
Gavin Moffat was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, for allowing his premises to be used for the production of cocaine.
Tracey Jenkins was given a community order for possession with intent to supply amphetamine.
Maria McClure was given a community order for possession with intent to supply amphetamine.
Nicola Greenwood was given a suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply amphetamine.
Daniel Harris remains wanted by police.
