Chard drugs ring broken up
Six people have been convicted of being involved in the supply of drugs in and around Chard.
Wesley Wells-Burr, 64 of North Perrott, was jailed at Taunton Crown Court on Tuesday 9 August for 43 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.
The other people sentenced were:
- Jay Macquarrie, 30 of Taunton: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and received an 18-month suspended sentence with requirement for 180 hours of unpaid work.
- Michael Swanston, 57 of Taunton: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and received an 16-month suspended sentence with requirement for 150 hours of unpaid work.
- Phillip Barnes, 51 of Taunton: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and received a 10-month suspended sentence with requirement for 150 hours of unpaid work.
- Bradley Bishop, 28 of Stoke St Mary: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and received two-year community order with requirement for 150 hours of unpaid work.
- Jeanette Pezare, 65 of North Perrott: Pleaded guilty to permitting a premises to be used for cannabis production and received a conditional discharge.
Four of the group have been ordered to pay back more than £375,000 in cash and assets.
Phone work was carried out and discovered a link between him and Wells-Burr. This led to a warrant being conducted in Chard two months later. Police searched an address owned by Wells-Burr and Jeanette Pezare.
Police enquiries into the criminal enterprise began back in May 2017. During a search for a missing person they encountered Jay Macquarrie with a significant amount of cannabis.
Forensics work was carried out and led police to discover a number of other men were involved.
As the investigation continued, two other sites in Churchstanton were searched belonging to the pair.
Officers seized thousands of pounds’ worth of cannabis, cash and a firearm.
Dr Kirstie Cogram, manager of the Complex Crime Unit, said: “We are committed to seizing any assets gained as a result of criminal activity. It is not acceptable that criminals benefit from illegal activities. We will relentlessly pursue them through the courts to ensure their proceeds are taken away from them.”