Brothers who led county lines drug gang jailed

Brothers who lead an organised crime group known as the Scouse Dave Line have been jailed for a combined total of more than 30 years.

Anthony and Brian Siner, both from Liverpool, had previously plead guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Anthony Siner, 38, was sentenced to 17 years and seven months in prison, whilst his brother Brian, 41, received 15 years and nine months during the sentencing hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday.

Two other members of the gang were also sentenced at the hearing, whilst a further thirteen will be sentenced in March.

Judge Sawyer, passing sentence, said: "It's sufficient to say this was a well organised and professional drug dealing network.

"It involved the exploitation of vulnerable people, mainly drug users, who were made to sell drugs on your behalf."

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, which has lead the investigation, said Anthony Siner had been head of the county lines gang, running heroin and crack cocaine through Gosport.

His brother Brian controlled the line operating in Plymouth, Devon, from his prison cell - where he was coming to the end of a 14 year sentence for previous drugs supply offences.

Over the course of the investigation, police seized four kilograms (8.8lbs) of drugs and more than £30,000 in cash, along with a number of weapons.

Between 1 January 2022 and 28 March 2023, it's believed the network sold at least 34.6kg (76.3lbs) of crack cocaine and heroin in Gosport and Plymouth.

Police said their investigation had "involved the disruption of all tiers" of the gang, from ground level runners, operational managers and two senior leaders - the Siner brothers.

At a court hearing last year, Anthony Siner pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Brian pleaded guilty to two counts of the same charge.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, Gareth Roberts and Lee Illingworth were also sentenced for their involvement within the gang.

Roberts was jailed for 6 years and 9 months.

The 43-year-old, from Southend-on-Sea in Essex, had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Police said he had acted as a courier for the operation - collecting cash and delivering drugs to Gosport and Plymouth.

Illingworth received a two year suspended sentence for his role in the gang, having already spent 13 months in prison awaiting his sentence.

Thirteen other gang members, from Liverpool, Gosport, Fareham, Plymouth and East Sussex - will be sentenced later in the year.

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