A LEADING member of a significant drugs ring which spanned two counties has been jailed for more than 20 years for his part as the lynchpin of a huge cocaine supply ring.

Jacob Fieldsend, of New Chapel Street, Barnsley, was given a sentence of 23 years and eight months having been identified as a key figure in a 16-strong organised crime group which infiltrated South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit recovered more than nine kilograms of cocaine and over £120,000 in cash after dismantling the group.

Imitation firearms, knives, a taser and other weapons were also seized alongside jewellery, high-value vehicles and designer clothing.

Fieldsend, 27, would buy multiple kilos of cocaine at a time from his supplier, Daniel Karim.

Working closely with Joel Herrett, from Sheffield, Fieldsend ran two streams to his business - both as a wholesale supplier of kilo or part-kilo quantities of cocaine to other dealers and also as someone who was ultimately responsible for the operation of a number of drug lines across South Yorkshire.

The operation saw Fieldsend providing large quantities of the class A drug to Jordan Green, Daniel Hicklin and Brandon Thompson, who were all ‘substantial’ dealers.

Brothers Michael and Christopher Hall were also dealers supplied by Fieldsend, along with Cameron Turner, with all three of them selling directly to users.

The money, prosecutors proved, then made its way back up the chain to Fieldsend.

In August 2023, when Fieldsend was arrested, he was found to be in possession of four kilograms of cocaine.

All pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug and were collectively sentenced to more than 150 years behind bars, while Fieldsend was also convicted of firearms offences.

Detective Inspector Lee Hunt, from the East Midlands Specialist Operations Unit, said: “These sentences reflect the scale of this operation which brought in huge quantities of illegal drugs.

“However, the impact of this group’s activities on the community is far broader than the drug supply alone.

“The operation saw members of the gang drive dangerously or without licences when trying to evade capture with no consideration for other road users.

“The fact a number of weapons were recovered, along with the additional convictions for firearms offences for Fieldsend, also demonstrates the violence which often goes hand-in-hand with drug supply.

“The harm caused to our communities by people who supply drugs cannot be underestimated.

“Not only is there direct physical, psychological and financial harm often caused to the people with drug addictions, but the gangs involved in the supply create a terrifying atmosphere of violence in order to maintain their status in - and hold over - a community.

“Knowing that this group are now behind bars for some time to come will have a hugely positive impact on the safety of people in communities.

“This has been a large-scale and complex investigation which has required an enormous amount of commitment, dedication and expertise from all of the team involved.

“I am immensely grateful to everyone who has played a part in this investigation and helped to secure these excellent custodial sentences.”

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JACOB Fieldsend’s conviction - which followed the imprisonment of a huge supplier of ketamine - won’t be the last, according to police who vowed to continue their cross-county crackdown.

Russell King, 63, of The Green, Royston, hid four bin bags full of the class B drug in compartments within a Fiat motorhome before crossing the North Sea by ferry from Rotterdam to Hull on August 24 last year.

When King arrived at his home address he was arrested by officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) whilst removing the drugs from the vehicle.

Officers recovered 100 kilos of ketamine, with an estimated street value of £2m, hidden inside the bin bags.

A further police investigation found that King had also helped import and supply 70 kilos of cannabis the month before.

Following King’s arrest, officers from YHROCU - who work alongside other specialised drug ring teams on neighbouring forces - established that he had also been instrumental in the importation of 632 kilos of ketamine into the UK during July 2023, working from mainland Europe to oversee the movement of the drugs.

He was jailed for 22 years earlier this year - but investigators warned perpetrators that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

Detective Superintendent Al Burns, of the YHROCU, said: “Operations dismantle significant supply chain into the UK from Europe, and I’m proud of the tireless work our officers put in to protect the public.

“No-one is beyond the reach of UK law enforcement and by working together we will relentlessly pursue those that seek to benefit from international criminality.

“It’s also a stark reminder of the harm these substances cause in our communities.

“We remain committed to tackling the organised crime groups fuelling this trade and causing misery in our communities.”