Five weapons, including a functioning shotgun, were discovered during police operations
Nottingham Crown Court(Image: Reach PLC)
Three individuals have been found guilty of involvement in a Nottinghamshire criminal organisation which used storage units as a hub to distribute large amounts of illegal drugs.
After a trial exceeding three months, a jury required just two days to reach unanimous verdicts against Leah Hopkinson, her partner Justin Gibson and Stefan Houston for their parts in the conspiracy.
A fourth defendant, John Lambert, was however acquitted of membership in the group which distributed an estimated £1m worth of drugs.
Judge James Sampson ordered the three convicted individuals to be held in custody and indicated that sentencing would take place over two days in late September for them and others who have already entered guilty pleas.
The court heard that police discovered five firearms, including a loaded shotgun, when they executed warrants on the units after months of surveillance into the criminal enterprise.
Prosecutor Katya Saudek stated that one of the units functioned as the retail outlet, another held 7kg of high purity cocaine and three additional handguns which were confiscated in a single raid, and a third contained £40,000 in cash.
Several members of the operation, including the main organiser, had already entered guilty pleas before the trial commenced at Nottingham Crown Court in May.
Miss Saudek, presenting the case, stated that the defendants, during 2024 and 2025, conspired with others to arrange the purchase and sale of drugs.
Substantial quantities of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis were involved, with these substances being distributed both in bulk to other dealers and broken down into individual street sales.
This was a major investigation during which Nottinghamshire Police identified 13 individuals as members of the organised crime group.
Large quantities of drugs were being stored and sold from Robinhood Storage in Mansfield Woodhouse.
Five separate units were operated by the group, with wholesale supplies being dispatched from them.
Container nine served as the primary location, essentially functioning as the shop.
Inside was a hydraulic press used to stamp or brand packages to make them appear to be imported products.
Also discovered in container nine were weighing scales, packets of bicarbonate of soda used to dilute cocaine and manufacture crack cocaine, and individual clingfilmed packets of crack cocaine and heroin prepared for immediate distribution to users.
She stated that approximately 8kg was recovered on the enforcement day alone, and with additional quantities, the total value was just under £1m.
The prosecutor stated that Jamie Smith, 37, from Breckbank, Forest Town, occupied the highest position in the hierarchy. He has already pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
Police observed Jamie Smith exiting one of the containers carrying a firearm, specifically a full-length loaded shotgun.
Four additional weapons were seized from the containers, comprising a rifle, a pistol and two Glock pistols.
Hopkinson, 30, from The Rushes, Mansfield Woodhouse, was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A and was responsible for managing the day-to-day street sales operation.
She possessed a key to one of the containers and was present on an almost daily basis.
Matthew Bryan, 34, from Elm Tree Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse has admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B.
Gibson, 35, from The Rushes, Mansfield Woodhouse, had denied conspiracy to supply Class A but was found guilty.
He is Hopkinson’s partner and a central member of the organisation who made journeys outside the Nottingham area. He was apprehended during one such trip in Hertfordshire while carrying more than £15,000 in cash.
Shannon Shaw, 30, from Breckbank, Forest Town, has pleaded guilty to money laundering and was involved in moving cash. She is the partner of Jamie Smith.
Another significant member was Keiran Rimmer, 36, from Seventh Avenue, Clipstone, who has admitted charges of conspiracy to supply Class A.
Those in lower positions included Anthony Lumley, 50, from Manor Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, who has admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B.
Brennan Hayes, 22, from Portland Crescent, Mansfield Woodhouse, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B.
He held an important position in the street dealing side of the operation and the drug line was transferred to him following the arrests of Lumley and Hayes.
Lee Shipman, 39, from Byron Street, Shirebrook, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B. He assumed their responsibilities after Lumley and Hayes were apprehended.
Jack Smith, 24, with no fixed address, has admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B. He operated his own independent operation, supplying directly using his own drug line.
Josh Harmieson, 32, from Elm Tree Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B. He was a purchaser from the operation.
Houston, 39, from Third Avenue, Clipstone, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A and B.
He assisted Keiran Rimmer and appeared to serve as Rimmer’s driver, given that Rimmer has only one leg.
Mr Lambert, 46, from Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, was acquitted of conspiracy to supply Class A and B.