How a complex investigation snared 11 drug dealers in Colchester

Jordan Gibbins, Nigel Parkes, Theresa Donovan, Stuart Edwards and Sian-Leigh McDonald all admitted their parts in the supply operation.

Gibbins and Donovan were jailed today at Ipswich Crown Court while Parkes, Edwards and McDonald were handed suspended sentences.

• READ MORE: Colchester drug supply sting in pubs and homes sees five dealers sentenced

Officers from Essex Police's serious violence unit then launched the operation in June 2021 after noting a rise in violent night-time incidents linked to the sale of cocaine in Colchester.

Using a variety of tactics, police identified a number of people involved in the sale of drugs in the town.

That operation led police to uncover several drug lines in operation in Colchester.

During the investigation, the sale of drugs was witnessed by undercover police officers on a number of occasions, including in four licensed venues in Colchester, including the Leather Bottle, the Royal Mortar and two town centre pubs, and at a petrol station in Shrub End Road. 

READ MORE: Here's how police caught Colchester drug dealers in probe

Through those deals, police worked to expose the network, which included Gibbins, Parkes, Donovan, Edwards and McDonald.

Gibbins, 29, of Weyland Drive, Stanway, admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Jordan Gibbins

As part of the police operation, he was witnessed a number of times supplying Class A drugs in the Royal Mortar pub, bragging to customers about being “always on” for business.

Sitting at Ipswich Crown Court today, His Honour Judge Martyn Levett sentenced Gibbins to fours years and two months in prison.

A serious crime prevention order was also granted for five years, which means when he is released from prison, he is only allowed to own one mobile phone, which must be registered in his name.

Gibbins also admitted a criminal benefit of £10,380. His remaining assets have been confiscated.

Theresa Donovan, 31, of Magdalen Green, Colchester, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis and possessing criminal property.

She had bragged about being “busy and into everything” and “had a robber” who was able to steal items from a high street department store in Colchester.

Theresa Donovan

She supplied both cocaine and cannabis from her home which she shared with her children.

She was arrested at her home in August 2021 and officers seized drugs and other drug paraphernalia, as well as a mobile phone connected to a drug line which had been sending marketing messages.

She was then released on bail.

A second warrant was then executed at her home in December 2021 during which officers found a significant amount of cannabis as well as a large amount of children’s designer clothing with the tags still on the items.

She was sentenced to a total of three years and eight months in prison.

Nigel Parkes, 56, of Layer Road, in Abberton, admitted being concerned in the supply of a Class A drugs.

Parkes’ role was to hook people into the syndicate and was responsible for arranging the sale of cocaine from the Leather Bottle pub.

Judge Levett sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

He must also complete 180 hours of unpaid work and will be subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am until March 2023.

Stuart Edwards, 34, of Gazelle Court, Colchester, and Sian-Leigh McDonald, 26, North Station Road, Colchester, admitted being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug.

Edwards additionally admitted three counts of supplying a Class A drug.

They were arrested together. Edwards had five phones which were seized, which showed plans to re-stock their drug supply, alongside what officers believed to be a ‘tick list’ of customers.

Edwards, a user himself who was “on a mobile crusade to deal drugs” in order to pay for his addiction was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years and was made the subject of a curfew from today until 8 March 2023 between 7pm and 5am.

An application for a serious crime prevention order was also granted, which means he will only allowed to own one mobile phone, which must be registered in his name. 

McDonald was sentenced to 18 months in prison which was suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work and was made the subject of a curfew for five months between 10pm to 7am.

In May, six other offenders caught as part of Operation Monaco were sentenced.

Adam Stephenson, 31, of St Leonard’s Road, Colchester, was jailed for six years and nine months after police officers found 685 grams of cocaine stashed in a Deliveroo bag at his property.

Adam Stephenson

Shane Dadds, 30, of Chase Court, Colchester, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

In July 2021, Dadds unknowingly supplied cocaine to undercover officers at the Royal Mortar Pub, Military Road, Colchester, before again facilitating a deal at Yates, Head Street.

Karlin Cavill, 25, of Old Road, Clacton, advertised and supplied cocaine between April and October last year.

Cavill was caught after inserting a sim card from a burner phone into his personal phone, leading officers to track his crimes before executing a search warrant.

Karlin Cavill

Upon the conclusion of their investigation, the police descended on his property and found £2,000 in cash and, having seized his phone, realised he had illegitimately made at least £38,640 between April and October.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment.

Benjamin Skelton, 32, of Shrub End Road, Colchester, was jailed for three years and three months after he admitted supplying Class A drugs.

Benjamin Skelton

Stephanie Szymanska, 34, of Wimpole Road, Colchester, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after she admitted supplying cocaine.

John Stone, 38, of Clacton Road, St Osyth, admitted offering to supply cocaine and possession of a Class A drug, and was banned from all pubs in the borough of Colchester for two years.

Chief Inspector Neal Miller, of Essex Police’s serious violence unit, said: “This operation was complex and involved a number of different tactics, all of which helped us to identify where these drugs were being supplied, how they were being supplied and by whom.

“I am in no doubt that Colchester is a safer place because of the success of this operation.

“To those intent on selling drugs in our county, the message is clear; we won’t tolerate it. You will be oblivious to us building a case against you and when we come to arrest you, you will have very little option but to admit your guilt, as these people sentenced today did.”