Middleton man jailed for 12 years in £1.8 million drug ring as ringleader still at large

The gang operated between March and October 2024, using encrypted phones, self-storage units, and couriers to distribute cocaine, heroin, MDMA and amphetamine on a commercial scale.

Despite the convictions, the group's alleged mastermind, 48-year-old Thomas Hunt, of Bonny Brow Street, Middleton, remains at large and is wanted by Greater Manchester Police.

Hunt is believed to have overseen the entire operation, directing logistics and drug movements from his home and other properties, including a Moss Bank address where 11kgs of cocaine and drug pressing equipment were discovered.

Dylan Robinson, 31, from Fallows Avenue, Middleton, was described as Hunt’s right-hand man. He controlled drug storage units and courier movements and was sentenced to 12 years and six months. He was found with over £61,000 in cash and keys to both storage containers when arrested.

Anthony Hunt, 39, of Rudston Avenue, Moston, and Thomas’s brother, received 11 years and three months. His DNA was found at a safe house and on gloves linked to cocaine and heroin packaging.

Stanley Ainsley, 57, from Birch Street, Gorton, who acted as a courier and drug storeman, was jailed for eight years and seven months. He was found with large quantities of amphetamine, heroin and cash.

Graham Sykes, 62, of Moston Lane, Moston, received five years and three months. A trusted courier, he was arrested in Derbyshire with a kilogram of cocaine hidden in his vehicle.

Aiden Hopkins, 31, of Howe Road, Gosport, operated in the south and was jailed for three years and nine months after being caught with Class A drugs and a viable firearm at his home.

Robert Earnshaw, 29, of Law Street, Rochdale, who is in a relationship with Hunt’s daughter, was sentenced to three years and four months for dealing drugs locally.

Three others received suspended sentences:

Thomas Lockwood, 60, of Mossbrook Court, Collyhurst, acted as a tester for drug purity and was handed a 20-month sentence suspended for 12 months.

Lisa Prescott, 40, of Henry Street, Leigh, linked through her partner James Close (already jailed for 36 years), received a 24-month sentence suspended for 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Rachel Blackburn-Stanley, 35, of Rudston Avenue, Moston, who assisted her partner Anthony Hunt with transport and addresses, was given an 18-month sentence suspended for nine months.

The group’s activities were described in court as highly coordinated, utilising trusted couriers and encrypted messaging to evade detection.

Detective Sergeant Shiels said:

“This was not a street-level operation, it was industrial scale. Everyone involved was motivated by greed, with no regard for the devastation that Class A drugs cause. The sheer quantity of drugs seized, along with the ammunition and cash, shows the extent of harm we’ve been able to prevent.”

Seized during the operation were:

• 15kgs of cocaine
• 1.8kg of heroin
• 6.4kgs of amphetamine
• Almost 7,000 ecstasy tablets
• £75,821 in cash
• 224 rounds of viable ammunition

DS Shiels added that the search for Thomas Hunt remains a top priority:

“We are using all powers available to us and we will catch up with him.”