A GANG of six men have been jailed for a total of 43 years for their role in a drugs conspiracy. 

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how a Gosport based gang was led by convicted killer, Liam Whitnell, from his prison cell at HMP Dovegate. 

Here he managed to use illicit mobile phones to ensure the gang were active and collecting Class A drugs for supply to vulnerable people across Hampshire.

Police investigated the group between September 1, 2018 and May 1, 2019, seizing heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £275,000, and around £74,500 in cash.

During the investigation, mobile phones were recovered that identified arrangements were made on 23 occasions for members of the group to travel to London where drugs were collected.

Yesterday, six people were sentenced to a total of 43 years in prison for their involvement in the gang. 

  • Liam Whitnell, 37, formerly of HMP Dovegate was sentenced to 9 years after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Portsmouth Crown Court on March 1.
  • Rayhaan Hoque, 38, of Woolmore Street in Tower Hamlets, London was jailed for 10 years after he was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Portsmouth Crown Court on March 23.
  • Luke Alan Goldsmith, 28, of Rambler Drive, Gosport was jailed for 6 years after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 22.
  • John Edward Parham, aged 33, of The Crossways, Gosport was sentenced to 6 years after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 22.
  • Lance Burt, 22, of Bury Hall Lane, Gosport had pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 22. He was sentenced to three years for these offences, and a further two years for the charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and acquiring criminal property, relating to offences on April 30, 2020.
  • Jacob James, 26, of Briar Close, Gosport was jailed for 7 years after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and one count of possession of criminal property on March 1. 

A seventh man, Jack Zachary Varvill, 22, of Londesborough Road, Southsea is due to be sentenced at a later date. 

He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 22.