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Wearside cocaine conspirators to pay back over £300,000
Two Wearside cocaine conspirators have been jailed for supplying drugs and ordered to pay back hundreds of thousands of their ill-gotten gains.
Kenneth Hunter and his associate William Trott were convicted in 2019 after a long-running investigation identified them as central figures in a plot to supply cocaine and amphetamine.
Investigations into their finances, which were culminated in two hearings, discovered that the pair had significantly benefitted from criminal activity.
The double act have since been ordered to pay back more than £300,000.
Trott, formerly of Hedworth Terrace, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on 11 February, with Hunter, formerly of St Paul’s Drive in Houghton, appearing on 25 February.
Following the hearings, Detective Sergeant Amber Renton from Northumbria Police’s Crime department said: “As part of our commitment to tackling serious and organised crime as part of Operation Sentinel, we will continue to pursue offenders after they’ve been convicted to make sure they are stripped of any ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act.”
A judge issued Trott a benefit order totalling £77,940 with £3,470 set as the available amount.
Hunter was issued with a benefit order of £241,653 with £24,800 set as the available amount.
Officers from Northumbria Police uncovered the pair’s illicit empire when disqualified driver Trott was caught behind the wheel of a car in Shiney Row.
A search of his home followed the arrest and led detectives to two kilos of cocaine and 12 kilos of amphetamine.
His associate Hunter was later arrested and during a search of his home, officers found a receipt for a speedboat which was quickly tracked down and seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, along with several other vehicles.
£19,500 speedboat seized (Credit: Northumbria Police)
The pair later appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where they pleaded guilty and in May 2020, they were jailed for a combined total of 14 years and an investigation into their finances was subsequently launched.
The rulings mean that Trott must pay the available amount immediately and Hunter within three months – and whenever they come into money in the future, their benefit orders will be revisited until the amounts are paid in full.
Detective Sergeant Renton added: “This result sends a strong and clear message to those involved in drug supply – crime does not pay. I hope this shows our hardworking communities that those breaking the law and living in big houses, driving expensive cars or funnelling cash made in illicit ways will not get away with it.
“I would like to thank our team of financial investigators, whose detailed and thorough work ensures those committing crimes do not continue to benefit from their illicit activity. I also want to take this opportunity to ask the public to work with us – and report anything suspicious to us.”
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Karen’s Diner on Tour coming to town on tour and ‘well if y’all show up in force we’ll either come as a longer term pop up or simply just stay put for a while until we’ve insulted everyone in the North East!’
We have spoken to the top Karen who assures everyone who went last time that Bottomless means BOTTOMLESS!
At our pop-up Karen’s you will be greeted and waited upon by rude waiters who in return are expecting you to give it full Karen. A place where you can complain until the cows come home because we literally don’t care. You can expect good food, good fun and a dining experience like you’ve never had before. Let us know if it’s your birthday, if your name is Karen and for the love of Karen don’t ask to speak to the manager….
Your ticket includes a delicious BOTTOMLESS pizza and BOTTOMLESS prossecco or select spirits and mixers as well as select soft drinks drinks for a full 90mins
*We cater for all allergens
You will get full and authentic Karen experience – our games, our waitstaff and the full works. Decent food provided by the venue (we hope) and BOTTOMLESS booze for those who love a drink. This is a dining experience like no other – literally. Come enjoy the OG Karen’s from OG Karen’s.
Don’t accept imitations – book now to avoid missing out!
Get your tickets here: https://explorehidden.com/public/event/details/karens-diner-on-tour-newcastle-1557060?aff=3w51557060y6I
See our two below YouTube videos from the last time they were in the toon to see what to expect…
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It looks set to be one of ITV’s biggest dramas this year and The Hunt for Raoul Moat is being brought to screen by the same people responsible for smash hit shows Line of Duty, Bodyguard and Vigil.
It was confirmed last April that production on the series had commenced, nearly 12 years after Moat gunman shot ex girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and her new boyfriend Christopher Brown, with Brown dying from his injuries. After fleeing Samantha’s home in Birtley, Moat, who had been released from prison just days earlier, went on the run, shooting on duty policeman PC David Rathband in the face as he sat in a patrol car on the outskirts of Newcastle and leaving him blind.
From there, Moat headed for Northumberland, forcing the quiet village of Rothbury into a lockdown as police launched a frantic search for him. The hunt for Moat reached its conclusion with a tense stand-off between the killer and the police on a riverbank, with Moat eventually shooting himself and dying from his injuries as he was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital.
ITV announced three parter The Hunt for Raoul Moat almost a year ago, as filming got underway in Yorkshire, with a cast including ex Bodyguard star Matt Stokoe as Moat and Inspector George Gently actor Lee Ingeleby as police chief Neil Adamson.
ITV have yet to officially announce an release date for The Hunt for Raoul Moat, but is expected to be form part of the channel’s spring programming.
footballinsider247 are reporting that the main shirt sponsor slot for Newcastle United is expected to be filled by airline SAUDI, who sponsored Newcastle’s mid-season tour of their owners’ homeland in December.
They state ‘This site revealed in February that there is frustration at St James’ Park that they have inherited a kit deal with Castore worth just £5m per year with no break clause and several seasons left to run.’
Newcastle’s recently appointed CEO Darren Eales has already previously expressed that the club at looking at all commercial opportunities and fans on Twitter were keen to mock up their expectation for the new shirts, see below and let us know your thoughts and also see our below video on how NUFC can increase commercial avenues..
Eddie Howe’s team are currently in a strong position to achieve a European slot which would increase revenue into the club allowing more spend whilst staying within Financial Fair Play which is something Howe has spoken about on several occasions as they look to stay within. If the club do reach a European slot it should help significantly with recruitment in the summer by making it a more attractive proposition to any incoming targets.
What do you think of the kits – let us know on our facebook page and join in on the conversation.
You can also download our FREE app – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates
Credit: NUFC kit concept – twitter
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