Carlisle Crown Court Sentencing Results

Deniz Nikolov was stopped by Cumbria Constabulary officers while driving in Low Row, Brampton, on 2nd September. Following a search, a drugs dog indicated controlled drugs in the front of the car, and Tactical Support Group officers found 150 individually sealed one-gram bags containing white powder concealed behind the vehicle's CD player. Officers also searched a hotel in Carlisle where Nikolov was staying and recovered a further seven one-gram bags. Testing confirmed the substance was cocaine, with an estimated street value of £12,560.

Antouel Margariti was arrested on 10 July 2026 as he returned to his vehicle outside Greggs in Eastern Way, Carlisle. A search of his home in Carlisle recovered a significant amount of cocaine valued at more than £27,000, along with scales and packaging. A forensic search of his phone uncovered messages offering cocaine for sale and a list of people who owed him money. He later admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine.

Officers executed a search warrant at an address in Carlisle on 6th November 2025. Smith, 24, of Carlisle, was found at the property and arrested. A small wrap of white powder was recovered from a tracksuit top pocket. Searches of a Land Rover parked outside revealed several bags of high purity cocaine: 67 individual half-gram wraps, 100 half-gram wraps, 12 one-ounce wraps, and 280 grams of loose bulk powder. Mobile phone evidence showed drug advertisements and arrangements for local sales in Carlisle.

Curtis Kirkbride was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine in West Cumbria. The conviction followed a targeted police operation aimed at disrupting the supply of Class A drugs across the region.

Alisia Cameron was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine in West Cumbria. The conviction followed a targeted police operation aimed at disrupting the supply of Class A drugs across the region.

Bradley Dryden was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and involvement in cocaine and ketamine supply in West Cumbria. The conviction followed a targeted police operation aimed at disrupting the supply of Class A drugs across the region.

Stephanie Moffatt was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine in West Cumbria. The conviction followed a targeted police operation aimed at disrupting the supply of Class A drugs across the region.

Bradley Cowan, 22, of Longtown, near Carlisle, was caught dealing cocaine on three occasions. First, in May 2024, he was arrested after riding an electric bike dangerously, fleeing police, and assaulting an emergency worker; he possessed six cocaine wraps and £460 cash, with phone messages showing drug sales. While on bail in September 2024, he was searched after using drugs at Walkabout bar in Carlisle, discarding a cocaine wrap on CCTV, with £1,225 cash found, and police discovered plastic wrapping, more cash, cannabis buds, and white powder remnants at his home. In January 2025, another search uncovered a golf ball-sized bag of cocaine, weighing scales, £500 cash, small bags of cocaine, and cannabis.

Andrew Bell, 36, of Penrith, Cumbria, was involved in a major cocaine supply plot as the Penrith spoke of an organised crime group originating in the South West. A 1kg block of import-quality cocaine was delivered to his home in January 2025 by courier Eyup Bayram. Bell collected the drugs and £27,000 cash in a transaction observed by police. Searches of his loft revealed the cocaine, snap-seal bags, over £22,000 cash, digital scales with powder traces, smaller cocaine bags, testing kits, and a knuckleduster. Evidence showed seven similar deliveries of 1kg or 2kg cocaine between August and December 2024. As part of the wider plot, 27.5kg cocaine, 19kg cutting agents, and £167,000 cash were seized.

Eyup Bayram, 35, Turkish national of Bournemouth, Dorset, served as a courier in a major cocaine supply plot, transporting import-quality drugs from the South West to Andrew Bell in Penrith, Cumbria. On seven occasions between August and December 2024, he delivered 1kg or 2kg amounts of cocaine, collecting cash payments. In January 2025, police observed him positioning his car near Bell's home for a 1kg delivery and £27,000 cash exchange. He delayed departure, possibly to verify payment while Bell inspected the product. As part of the wider plot, 27.5kg cocaine, 19kg cutting agents, and £167,000 cash were seized.

Sean Darbyshire was recruited by Anthony Shaw for the conspiracy to supply crack cocaine. He was placed in a Carlisle hostel and participated in the operation, which involved sourcing drugs and launching the county line on 23rd January.

Reece Lomas acted as the driver of the BMW during the conspiracy to supply crack cocaine. On 23rd January, he drove the vehicle involved in a drug deal and fled from police when it was followed into a dead end.

Kian Bobmanuel was involved in the conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, including fleeing from police in the BMW and allegedly disposing of drugs. The operation was launched on 23rd January after meetings in Manchester, with evidence of drugs and phones linking him to the group.

Anthony Shaw masterminded a conspiracy to supply crack cocaine by arranging the purchase of a BMW with cloned plates, sourcing drugs from a Manchester dealer, and setting up a county line operation. He sent messages to drug users and conducted a deal shortly after launching the operation on 23rd January. Police interrupted the plot, leading to his arrest after he fled from the vehicle.

Rufus Onya was stopped by police on the M6 near Junction 40 for Penrith while driving a white Nissan Qashqai. He appeared nervous and provided conflicting stories about his travel plans. A search of the vehicle uncovered three kilograms of cocaine worth £300,000 hidden in a cardboard box in the boot, along with an air conditioning unit. Further investigation led to a search of his home in Kent, where thousands of pounds were recovered. Onya claimed he was asked to deliver a package without knowing its contents.

Magdalena Sadlo acted as the 'business brain' for a £53m drugs cartel, managing criminal accounts, transporting vast quantities of cocaine around England, and laundering money. She made multiple trips as a courier, trafficking nearly 300kg of cocaine, including 33kg to Manchester, using BMWs for 'whistle-stop' tours. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport on February 13, 2024, with luxury watches worth £160,000 bought with proceeds of crime.

Robert Williams, from Rossendale, was stopped by police in an unmarked vehicle on the M6 in Cumbria after swerving onto the hard shoulder. A search of his car uncovered around £18,000 in cash and a 1kg block of cocaine with a potential street value of £80,000 to £100,000. The incident led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

On 17 April 2023 police executed a drugs warrant at a property in Far Moss, Workington, and found 21.5 grams of cocaine in plastic bags, eight street deals of cocaine, cannabis in a kitchen cupboard, scales, snap bags and a large sum of cash. Mobile phone evidence showed messages offering cocaine and cannabis for sale, discussions about drug pricing, threats relating to unpaid drug debts, and financial transactions linked to drug supply.

On 17 April 2023 police executed a drugs warrant at a property in Far Moss, Workington, and found 21.5 grams of cocaine in plastic bags, eight street deals of cocaine, cannabis in a kitchen cupboard, scales, snap bags and a large sum of cash. Mobile phone evidence showed messages offering cocaine and cannabis for sale, discussions about drug pricing, threats relating to unpaid drug debts, and financial transactions linked to drug supply.

On 3 May 2022, Blessing Bere, a night manager at a Surrey hotel, used a customer's AMEX credit card details, provided upon arrival, to fraudulently purchase LNER train tickets from London to Edinburgh. The transaction was flagged as suspicious when Bere presented the tickets on the train, leading to him being removed at Doncaster station. British Transport Police officers found him flustered and unable to explain the tickets. Further investigation revealed attempts to purchase tickets with other cards and charges totalling almost £250 on another customer's account. Officers seized credit card authorisation forms with customer details during his arrest.

Ross Coates, of no fixed address, was involved in supplying Class A drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as Class B drugs like ketamine and cannabis, in the Kendal area last year. Officers from Cumbria’s Community Serious and Organised Crime unit conducted an extensive investigation, including warrants, which identified him as a supplier. He was also charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Zholia Alemi possessed a degree certificate that appeared to be altered, claiming she was a qualified doctor. This was confirmed by an expert in document analysis during her trial. She was exposed as a fake doctor by News & Star, leading to her case being heard in court.