A drugs gang with a distribution network in Sidmouth, Exmouth, Ottery St Mary, Exeter and Cornwall have been jailed for a total of nearly 28 years.

The gang trafficked almost £4 million of cannabis into East Devon and Cornwall and later diversified into dealing cocaine.

Sidmouth businessmen Philip Fallows, aged 36, of Cotmaton Road, organised the delivery of weekly consignments of seven kilograms of high quality cannabis which was sold in blocks bearing a copy of the EA7 Emporio Armani logo.

He obtained the drugs from the co-leader of the conspiracy, Jamie Chapman of Old North Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, and distributed them through a network of sub-dealers in seaside and market towns.

Fallows and Chapman were both jobbing builders who used their legitimate businesses as cover for drug dealing. Chapman sourced the drugs in London and Spain. 

Philip Fallows was jailed for seven years and eight months and Jamie Chapman for six years and ten months.

Chapman’s 67-year-old father Paul, who lived in South Lawn, Sidford, acted as the main courier, making 47 weekly trips to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire to pick up seven kilos of cannabis per journey while delivering vast amounts of cash to pay for it. He has been jailed for three years and three months.

Damien Carnell, aged 37, of Manstone Avenue, Sidmouth, sold to users in Sidmouth and Exeter and recruited two of his customers to help him.  He has been jailed for two years and seven months.

George Fallows, who has yet to be sentenced, ran a distribution hub in Ottery St Mary and recruited Gary Hedgeland, aged 31, of Sunny Hill, Ottery St Mary, to help him. Hedgeland was given a sentence of one year and eight months, suspended for two years, with 210 hours unpaid work.

Two Exmouth men were also involved in the operation, having acted as minder and driver for one trip to and from London. Matthew Harris, aged 55, of Albion Street was sentenced to 240 hours unpaid work, while Scott Bayliss, aged 44, of Albion Street was given 210 hours unpaid community work and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

In total, the gang trafficked at least 390 kilograms of cannabis and 18.8 kilograms of cocaine into the South West.

The conspiracy lasted for 14 months before police broke it up, first by arresting Paul Chapman as he arrived home with a car full of cannabis in May 2022 and then through simultaneous raids on other gang members.

Police seized £11,000 cash, 20 kilos of amphetamines and three kilos of cannabis from Philip Fallows’ properties in Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, and more at his brother’s home.

 The amount of cash deposited into the gang’s bank accounts was more than £350,000 but much larger sums were sent back to pay for previous supplies and fund expansion and new purchases.

All the defendants admitted conspiracy or drugs offences.

Defence barristers said they got involved because of their own drug use or financial hardship.