Four jailed for drugs robbery
28 January 2012
Four men who were intercepted by police whilst en route to rob a drug safe house containing £5 million worth of controlled drugs have been jailed for a total of 34 years.
The group were stopped by officers from the Met’s Projects Team earlier this year and found to be in possession of a loaded firearm, hammers, handcuffs, balaclavas and masks.
It is believed they were destined for an address in Essex where officers later discovered significant amounts of drugs, namely amphetamines and Cannabis.
On 6 July 2011 as part of a pre-planned and intelligence-led operation, officers stopped two vans in Margretting Road, Galleywood, Essex. The vehicles, which each contained two of the defendants, were searched and officers discovered the host of items.
All four men were arrested at the location on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of firearms.
An address linked to one of the defendants, 28-year-old Mark Bines, was searched and £5000 in cash was found along with a computer displaying images of an address in Galleywood, Essex.
Police identified the property and on executing a warrant at the address recovered 1000kgs of Cannabis and 50kg of amphetamine sulphate, as well as mixing agents and drugs presses.
The occupant David Fearn, 56 yrs, was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs - receiving a four year jail sentence.
Detective Inspector Bruce South, said: “I believe these individuals were intent on committing a violent robbery at the safe house and have no doubt that had it not been for the intervention of officers we could have seen a very different set of circumstances unfold.”
On 8 July 2011 all four men were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a firearm.
All were sentenced today, Friday 27 January, at Southwark Crown Court as follows:
[A] Kevin Hunter (27.8.93 - 18 yrs), of Churchwood Terrace, Chingford E4 - found guilty on 13 December 2011 of conspiracy to rob and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence - jailed for ten years.
[B] Aaron Morris (19.9.89 - 22 yrs), of Fawe Street E14 - found guilty on 13 December 2011 of conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs - jailed for eight years.
[C] Mark Morris (2.7.74 - 37 yrs), of East India Dock Road E14 and [D] Mark Bines (29.1.83 - 28 yrs), of The Rodings, Snakes Lane, Woodford Green Essex pleaded guilty on 28 November to conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. Both were jailed for eight years.
- Aaron Morris