Nathanial Thomas Hollywood, aged 27, was the final member of a Thirsk drugs gang to be sentenced when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (Monday 22 July 2013) – he has been jailed for eleven years.
He also received a five-year serious crime prevention order.
10 other members of the gang were brought before the court for their part in the supply of cocaine in Thirsk earlier in the month.
The court heard that the men had been involved in the sale of drugs in Thirsk between July 2011 and February 2012.
Officers uncovered the conspiracy after finding evidence of drugs supply during an examination of a mobile telephone belonging to Hollywood.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Smith, who has responsibility for leading North Yorkshire Police’s tactical response against organised crime, said:
We have seen some fantastic results recently at crown courts with significant sentences being passed to those engaged in organised crime.
Those results have come from painstaking and lengthy investigations taking up to two years to bring to conclusion. The officers involved should feel justifiably proud of their achievements.
We have first class officers whose skill and tenacity has withstood scrutiny at court and their efforts serve the public well. The processes we use to identify those who engage in such crime are in place and established.
The challenge for us going forward, is to continue with the momentum, to ensure that we continue to get the intelligence from the public that often first identifies these criminals.
There is often a correlation between someone living a lifestyle beyond any immediately obvious means and their involvement in organised crime. Members of the public who have such concerns or information can contact their local policing team, or ring Crimestoppers.
On many occasions, successful investigations enable us to use the power of the law to relieve such people when convicted of their ill gotten gains – this has benefits for the community in being able to access funds to help local people in a far more positive way.
We look forward to continue to investigate those who seek to set themselves above the law.
Those who engage in such crime will hopefully be worried as to who’s next.
Anyone who would like to report drug dealing in their community should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 – select option 1 – and pass information to the Force Control Room.
If you wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.
