Four men have been jailed today for their role in establishing drug supply line supplying crack cocaine in Carlisle.
At Carlisle Crown Court today, 29 August, Judge Fanning sentenced the following men for their respective roles in the conspiracy;
- Anthony Shaw, aged 35, of no fixed abode was jailed for five years
- Kian Bobmanuel, aged 25 of Emmet Street, Manchester was jailed for 32 months
- Sean Darbyshire, aged 22 of Lowther Street, Carlisle was jailed for three years
- Reece Lomas, aged 19, of Bury Old Road, Bury was jailed for 27 months.
On 23rd January 2025, officers were on patrol in Carlisle in an unmarked vehicle, accompanied by colleagues from Merseyside Police. This was part of a join operation targeting travelling drugs criminals.
At around 10:15pm, police witnessed what they believed to be a drug deal involving a silver BMW. Checks on the registration plate identified that this vehicle had travelled to Carlisle from Manchester the night before.
Officers followed the vehicle and later attempted to stop the car, however the driver, now identified as Lomas, refused to open the door, and instead accelerated away at speed before stopping some distance later where and all four men in the vehicle then made off from the scene.
A short foot chase followed, however Lomas, Shaw, Bobmanuel and Darbyshire, were quickly detained and arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drug.
Notably, on his arrest, Lomas said to his arresting officer: "How can you’s arrest me when you have found no drugs?"
Located in the vehicle was a handwritten list of just one telephone number, written repeatedly - a mobile number for their newly started ‘drugsline’ used to supply drugs.
A ‘burner’ phone was also located on the ground next to the abandoned vehicle.
Officers also seized a hotel room key card from Bobmanuel’s possession and a search of the hotel room uncovered 153 street deals of crack cocaine with a value of £3,940.
Another man is due to be sentenced next month for his involvement in the conspiracy.
Following the sentencing, DC Tim Prangnell of the Cumberland Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “These criminals thought that dealing drugs far from their hometowns would mean they could operate under the radar. And yet having conspired together to bring crack cocaine from Manchester to the streets of Carlisle, within an hour of starting up their drugs phone line they had been caught, in a collaboration between Merseyside, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.
“We work with other forces across the UK on a daily basis, pursuing those intent on making money off other’s misery. This case is simply one example.”
Anyone with information on drugs supply in their area can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.