Whitchurch man among gang jailed for supplying cocaine

Lewis Higgins, 36 and of Caldecott Crescent in Whitchurch, received five years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs from October 2023 to April 2025.

Judge Steven Everett, having sentenced the two ringleaders in Chester-based Scott Ward and Sam Booth plus Lee Ward and Peter Wiggins on Thursday, sentenced the remaining eight defendants on Friday.

Higgins, who has been on remand for eight months, was a ‘street level dealer’ in Whitchurch where he would receive deliveries from Karl Eyre to then sell on in the town, as well as for his own use.

The court heard that he was addicted to cocaine with his use ‘getting out of hand’, leading him to become a dealer in Whitchurch.

Sentencing Higgins, he said: “I know enough about Whitchurch to know that if there is more than one dealer, there is going to be trouble.

“It’s a small market town and you were the principal dealer with at least one kilo.”

Judge Everett did say that a letter written by the defendant was impactful, stating his time in prison saved his life and was a ‘blessing in disguise’.

He added that he believed the defendant’s remorse for ‘causing addiction’.

There was argument between Higgins’s barrister and Judge Everett regarding the calculation of the cocaine amount.

However, the defendant accepted he handled more than 1kg of cocaine.

Higgins will serve half of his five years on licence.

His Honour added: “All eight of you are before this court as players in a conspiracy in a major conspiracy role.

“You were all addicted to drugs – you’ve all known addiction and the degradation of using and the pressure of finding the next fix.

“All of you know that.

“The vast majority of people go about their business. There are many people with mental health issues who don’t then deal cocaine.

“There is a problem in this country with the supply of Class A drugs.”

The remaining defendants were also sentenced.

• Shane Stokes, 43, of Wemyss Road, Blacon, was given 67 months; Ryan Crank, 33, of Wordsworth Crescent, Blacon, received 56 months and Karl Eyre, from Blacon, received four years.
• A second sentencing session saw Shane Bright – 30 and of Palgrave Close, Blacon – jailed for 50 months minus 67 days for time served while Alexxander Bell received 56 months.
• Amy Allman, 29 and of Wordsworth Crescent, Blacon received eight months – suspended for two years – for supplying cocaine and nitrous oxide.
• Katie Whitley, 43, and of Wordsworth Crescent, received six months also suspended for two years.

She pleaded guilty to allowing her property to be used for drugs.

All will serve half on licence.