Recordings from covert device smashed drug racket

May 8 2008 by Hilary Clixby, The Journal

AN undercover police operation smashed a major cannabis racket in the North East with the aid of a sophisticated bugging device, a court heard.

Information was gathered against Robert Henson and members of his team by planting the covert device in his Volvo car, where it recorded numerous conversations he had with others in the vehicle and on his hands-free mobile phone.

And although Henson suspected his car may have been “rigged” while he had been away on holiday in the USA, he had been unable to locate the device despite the detectors he had bought, Newcastle Crown Court was told yesterday.

Detectives moved in to arrest Henson and his gang on September 10 last year when more than 450 kilos of cannabis resin was seized from lock-up garages, vans and cars across Tyneside.

Officers also recovered more than £50,000 in cash, including £8,100 in a cash box in the oven at the home of Henson’s daughter Amanda Elliott.

Henson, 59, of Ancroft Garth, Shincliffe, County Durham, has admitted conspiracy to supply a Class C drug between August 1 and September last year.

John Rae, 39, of Killingworth Lane, Backworth, Paul Thompson, 48, of Telford Close, Backworth, and Peter Thirlaway, 38, of Dowling Avenue, Whitley Bay, all North Tyneside, have also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.

Elliott, 34, of Redwood Close, Hetton, County Durham, has admitted concealing criminal property belonging to her father.

Tim Gittins, prosecuting, said: “It was clear that Henson was at the centre of a business distributing large wholesale amounts of cannabis resin that had been delivered from the Continent with others assisting in different ways.”

He said the bugging device recorded Henson – who referred to cannabis as “wood” or “tack” – discussing the delivery of large amounts of cannabis on a regular basis with a Spanish contact.

“Once the covert device was fitted to Henson’s vehicle, it recorded numerous conversations he was to have with other co-conspirators,” said Mr Gittins.

“Henson appeared to be arranging transactions with a Spanish national he called Billy for the delivery of large amounts of cannabis on a regular basis.

“The sums of cash he regularly discussed ranged from a few hundred pounds for the onward supply of smaller amounts of the drugs to him needing at one stage £90,000 to pay for the next delivery of cannabis resin.”

Three other alleged members of the gang, Frederick Foreman, 55, of Monks Park Way, Longbenton, Ian Dixon, 31, of The Briery, Throckley, and Kevin Curry, 48, of West Road, Newcastle, all deny conspiracy to supply a Class C drug.

The trial continues today.

Once the covert device was fitted to Henson’s vehicle, it recorded numerous conversations