Manc drug dealers who caused 'misery and mayhem' in Devon caught after hotel staff phoned police

A Manchester-based drugs gang that caused 'misery and mayhem' in Devon was smashed after hotel staff reported their 'unruly' behaviour to police. Officers were regularly called to hotels and homes where members of the county lines operation were staying while down south.

The gang's ringleader Sean O’Neill stayed with his girlfriend at the trendy Hotel du Vin in Exeter while other hotels were reported to police when staff spotted thousands of pounds in cash. Some members were arrested repeatedly and released under investigation but went straight back into business, sending thousands of texts to customers every week.

As part of the operation, they used the street names Manc P and Black P and ‘cuckooed’ a wheelchair drug addict and used an empty flat while its owner was away, Exeter Crown Court heard. Police traced at least 16 trips from Manchester to Exeter in which two female couriers brought thousands of pounds worth of drugs to Devon and took back large quantities of cash.

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Three members of the gang were jailed today (Thursday, May 19). O’Neill, 35, of Canute Street, Partington, and Samuel Williams, 29, also of Partington, both admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

O’Neill was jailed for six years and three months and Williams for four years and six months. Ashley Duhaney, 35, of Lock Lane, Partington, was jailed for four years and ten months after admitting possession with intent to supply and possession of extreme pornography.

Sentencing the three men, Judge Timothy Rose told them: “This was a substantial, very meaningful and very destructive county lines operation which wreaked havoc on local communities. You exploited