'Drugs transporter' among gang caged

AFTER BOXER'S £1M COCAINE RING TOPPLED

- By ROB KENNEDY and FELICITY COLLINSON

A HARTLEPOOL 'drugs transporter' is among a gang jailed after a North East boxer’s lucrative £1m cocaine ring was toppled.

Thomas Blythe, from Hartlepool, worked as the transporter in Robert Ismay’s ‘untouchable’ drugs ring until it was busted by French officials who hacked their EncroChat communications network.

Now, three of the cronies have been jailed for a combined 32 years - with a fourth member due for sentencing next month.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Ismay, who has fought for national boxing championships, was in charge of the “untouchable” gang of four. Once the hacked Encro messages were read by police, it was clear Ismay and others were involved in the buying of selling of large amounts of cocaine.

The court heard Ismay, who was in charge of the conspiracy, later went on the run to Cyprus to try to evade justice and had to be extradited.

The court heard Shaun Holywell was his trusted lieutenant, Gary Hope was a storeman who received a wage for providing that service, and Teessider Blythe helped transport the drugs around.

After accessing their communications, police put the gang under covert surveillance before they were arrested.