AN Oldbury man has been jailed for six years for his part in conspiring to supply 1kg of cocaine into South Staffordshire.

Lee Crowley, aged 42, of Pound Road, was part of an organised crime gang who have been collectively sentenced to 30 years imprisonment following a six-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The cocaine, discovered during the operation, led by Staffordshire Police’s major and organised crime department, was found to have a purity of 81 per cent and an approximate street value of £202,000.

At the head of the gang was Christopher Burns, aged 40, of Burntwood, who was responsible for the organisation, acquisition and distribution of the drugs into South Staffordshire.

The court heard that on November 24, 2014, Burns directed Alexander Floyd, a 25-year-old of Overton Road, Hammerwich, to attend McDonalds in Hagley Road West, Birmingham, to collect a package from Crowley.

Floyd was stopped and arrested soon afterwards and one kilogramme of cocaine was discovered in the foot-well of the Vauxhall Corsa he was driving.

The cocaine was wrapped in a carrier bag with two of Floyd’s fingerprints on the bag.

Subsequent searches and investigations revealed evidence of further cocaine dealing between Alfred Floyd, aged 26, of Scholars Gate, Burntwood, and Alexander Floyd.

Separate quantities of cocaine were also recovered from the home address of 41-year-old Joseph Gregory, of Rugeley Road, Burntwood.

Detective Inspector Pete Cooke, of Staffordshire Police’s major and organised crime department, said: “These men were clearly significant in the supply of Class A drugs in Staffordshire.

“The arrests and subsequent convictions of all five are the result of a well-planned operation and this investigation shows that we are determined to rid our communities of drugs and those intent on dealing them.”

Burns was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, Alexander Floyd and Alfred Floyd were both given six years in jail, while Gregory was found guilty of possession and was fined £1,750 to be paid over 12 months.