Derbyshire police warn no one is untouchable after £1.6m drugs gang is convicted

Fourteen men including seven from north Derbyshire and the Peak District have been convicted of drug-related offences linked to a £1.6 million drugs operation.
Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. Convicted defendant in Operation Chromium drugs case.Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. Convicted defendant in Operation Chromium drugs case.
Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. Convicted defendant in Operation Chromium drugs case.

A Leicester Crown Court trial heard last week how seven of the accused were found guilty of offences including possessing or supplying drugs such as amphetamines, diazepam and cannabis and converting criminal property. And a further seven pleaded guilty to a similar range of offences.

Those found guilty by a jury included Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale, Kevin Brough, 55, of Hallcroft, Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Glen Martin, 48, of Highfield Lane, Chesterfield, Dean Wilson, 28, of Eccles Close, Hope Valley.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Others found guilty included David Atkinson, 47, of The Croft, Beckingham, Doncaster, Steven Crossland, 39, of Albion Road, New Mills, and Gavin Logan, 28, of Hayton Avenue, South Shields.

Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. Convicted defendant in Operation Chromium drugs case.Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. Convicted defendant in Operation Chromium drugs case.
Neil Ogden, 45, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. Convicted defendant in Operation Chromium drugs case.

Those who pleaded guilty included Dean Hollis, 52, of Manor Road, Chesterfield, Elliot Hopewell, 31, of Spinkhill Road, Renishaw, Nicholas Seville, 33, of Edge View, Great Longstone, Bakewell, Leigh Price, 33, of Derby Road, Draycott, Steven Armitt, 32, of Cliff Road, Buxton, Aaron Hamilton, 19, of Dakin Avenue, Buxton, and Andrew Bradley, 36, of Ferneydale Avenue, Buxton.

Superintendant Graham McLaughlin, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “This case involved numerous people who were wrongly recognised as untouchable - but no one is untouchable. We know who you are and we will ultimately bring you to justice no matter how long it takes.
“Neil Ogden was the principal figure in this organised crime group. He was the top man or very close to the top. His criminal business amounted to £1,651,421 in takings with a luxury lifestyle with a top apartment, driving Range Rovers and a BMW and paying for everything in cash.
“We’ve been investigating this case for nearly two years. When you think of the seriousness and complexity of this group, the investigation has had to be meticulous and it has been about removing really serious drug dealers.”
During Derbyshire Constabulary’s Operation Chromium officers seized £50,000 in cash and drugs worth over £30,000 and a spreadsheet was recovered from Neil Ogden relating to alleged drugs and contraband transactions between Neil Ogden and others of over £1m.

The police claimed many of the accused were linked to the spreadsheet. Officers carried out raids and the accused were charged between May 7 and 23, last year. Officers searched a shed at Hognaston, near Carsington, linked to Kevin Brough and found a tub of cannabis resin - and seized more items from a barn in Kirk Ireton. A Belmont Park apartment, in Chesterfield, was also leased to Neil Ogden - police found cash and a currency counter there. A drugs expert also interpreted text messages as codes for drugs and quantities and deals.

Hide Ad

Neil Ogden was found guilty of conspiracy to convert criminal property valued at £1,651,421. He was also found guilty of nine other counts of conspiracy to convert criminal property between the values of £121,850 and £400. He was also found guilty of possessing diazepam with intent to supply and conspiracy to supply amphetamine. Neil Ogden was found not guilty of possessing cannabis with intent to supply and not guilty of three other counts of conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Hide Ad

Kevin Brough was found guilty of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, handling a stolen Wacker plate and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Glen Martin and Dean Wilson were found guilty of conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Andrew Bradley pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing amphetamine, and possession of cannabis and was found not guilty of conspiracy to convert criminal property. David Atkinson was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cannabis and to possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Steven Crossland was found guilty of possessing heroin with intent to supply and not guilty of conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Hide Ad

Gavin Logan was found guilty of conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Another accused Stephen Cooper, 52, of Bridge Court, Beeston, Nottingham, was found not guilty of conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Hide Ad

Dean Hollis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property. Elliot Hopewell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property valued at £121,850, and guilty to possessing amphetamine with intent to supply.

Nicholas Seville admitted conspiracy to convert criminal property and conspiracy to supply amphetamine.

Hide Ad

Leigh Price pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property and to supplying Subutex. Steven Armitt and Aaron Hamilton admitted conspiracy to convert criminal property.

The jury was unable to reach verdicts on another charge of conspiracy to convert criminal property against Neil Ogden and Kevin Brough and on another charge of conspiracy to convert criminal property against Neil Ogden and David Atkinson. The jury was also unable to reach a verdict on a charge of conspiracy to supply amphetamine against Neil Ogden and Stephen Ogden, 66, of Oker Avenue, Darley Dale. A retrial is due on unresolved verdicts.

All guilty defendants, except those subject to a retrial, will be sentenced on November 21.

Hide Ad

Following the verdicts, Superintendant Graham McLaughlin, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “It’s been worth the two years’ investigation because these offenders will face a significant time in prison.

Hide Ad

“This case is also a good opportunity for us to get more intelligence so anyone with information about drug dealing around Chesterfield and Buxton should contact us.”

Anyone with information about drug offences is urged to call Derbyshire Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.