Sentences slashed for two Kettering drug gang members

Two members of a gang which conspired to supply drugs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds in Kettering have had their prison terms reduced.

Simon Bailey and Tony Succo successfully appealed against the length of their sentences at the Royal Courts of Justice, with more than a year taken off them.

The pair were part of an organised crime group which received jail terms totalling almost 100 years in 2019 after a four-month intelligence-led investigation into the suspected dealing of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis across the town.

Three other members of the organised crime group failed in a bid to reduce their sentences.

Succo, of no fixed address but of the Kettering area, played a 'significant' role in the operation and was was trusted by another gang member with large quantities of drugs at import level purity which he was going to dilute for onward sale.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to supply cocaine in April and June of 2018 and was jailed for 10 years and six months by Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane at Northampton Crown Court.

He was given 25 per cent credit for admitting it, but appeal judges found he should have been given one-third credit instead having indicated guilty pleas at the first indictable-only hearing before magistrates.

In a written judgement, which was published last month, Lord Justice Green, Mr Justice Julian Knowles and His Honour Judge Blair QC said: "We conclude that a full one-third credit should have been given.

"We therefore quash the sentence of 10 years and six months and substitute in its place a sentence of nine years and four months."

Bailey, of Daylesford, Gloucestershire, was found guilty of conspiring to supply cocaine during April 2018 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He was the intended recipient of 1kg of the class A drug being transported by another gang member and had an expectation of financial gain.

Because he was convicted after a trial he got no credit but his legal team argued that, with no aggravating features, his mitigation of having no previous convictions and positive character references meant the starting point for deciding the length of his sentence should have been lower.

Appeal judges ruled the exact sentencing remarks of Her Honour Judge Crane had no stated reasoning explaining why she did not come down from the starting point of 10 years.

Their written judgement said: "To this extent we treat this as an error of approach."

Bailey's sentence was reduced from 10 years to eight years and six months.

Judges ruled that three other members of the organised crime group should not have their sentences reduced.

Marcus McLeish, of Balfour Street in Kettering, had pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiring to supply cocaine and was sentenced to a total of 13 years and six months in prison.

He directed, organised, bought and sold on a commercial scale and had substantial links to and influence over others in the chain.

A legal team argued he wasn't given sufficient credit for his plea and that sufficient weight had not been given to the principle of totality - where a judge imposes a total sentence which reflects the overall criminality and is just and proportionate for someone who has committed multiple offences.

Jonathan Radford, of Margaret Road in Kettering, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison after admitting conspiring to supply cocaine and amphetamine.

He worked with two of those who were at the top of the operations and had some operational and managerial functions.

His legal team also argued that the judge had not properly applied the principle of totality.

Peter Hall, of Uist Walk in Corby, was convicted of conspiring to supply amphetamine and pleaded guilty to the supply of cannabis, receiving a total sentence of 11 years and nine months in prison.

He was a professional and sophisticated drug dealer, using technology and other individuals to avoid detection. He played a leading role, directing and organising, buying and selling on a commercial scale with substantial links to and influence on others in the chain.

And his legal team also argued that the judge had not applied the principle of totality properly.

But judges dismissed the appeals of all three, ruling that Judge Crane's sentences would not be reduced.