In early 2014, following the death of Paul Goggins, a by-election was held. They were born with little more than nothing, and went on to make everything (and lost everything again but we'll come to that). Their story can be now be told - following the convictions of 20 people. Manchester Crown Court heard gang members - from across North Staffordshire, Cheshire, Manchester and Liverpool - travelled in to peddle drugs inn Congleton and Macclesfield in a 'county lines' operation. ", 'Still Breathing' is published by Black & White Publishing, priced 20, on 7 November, Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Detectives have smashed four drug rings. 2023 BBC. But if there is any message in the book, and I hope there is, then it is this: that out of bad things can come good. The Airport Line branch of the Manchester Metrolink tram service includes twelve stops throughout Wythenshawe. We are not endorsing any of the things we have written about in the book. After he came out of prison, the brothers fell out ("Over money, probably"), and did other things: Chris renovated houses, Anthony, ever enigmatic, "met some people offshore and did a couple of things out of the country". Born into a family linked to the Quality Street Gang, which cultivated a Krays-like status throughout the North in the 1960s and 1970s, in the flesh, the Donnellys come across much as they do in their book: rogues of the curiously lovable kind. As of around 1970, Heyhead was a small settlement at the south end of Woodhouse Lane and the nearby part of Ringway Road. "In the meantime, we have increased our police presence in the area, and the public should feel reassured that if they have any concerns they can approach our officers directly. Natalie Wrafter and drugs 'wholeslaler' Adam Hopewell controlled a group of drugs couriers at the Yorkshire end of the operation and Shazia Din also ran her own couriers. A station at Manchester Airport was opened in 1993. The 45-year-old, who lives a few doors down from the terraced home where Marcus grew up, says the star has made a huge difference locally. "[The police] had nothing," Anthony says, "and all charges on Chris were dropped." A month after Peter Wrafter's arrest, Shazia Din and Natalie Wrafter were seen by a surveillance operation exchanging thousands of pounds worth of drugs money in the car park of Doncaster Prison, prior to visiting Peter Wrafter, who was an inmate. In 1934, George Hamer Scholes built the Wylex Works to produce electrical accessories. We did. Together with Shazia's son, Hassan, 21, they ran an online beauty business, selling styling products on Amazon. In an emotional video interview released by police, one woman living in Macclesfield told how violence and daily dealing blighted the lives of law-abiding residents. Wythenshawe also housed the outdoor sets for the show, which were built on private property. Police say Shazia's sister Abia, and son, Hassan, were heavily involved in the family's drug dealing and money laundering. A total of 23 defendants have now been handed a total of more than 100 years behind bars. We have worked closely with our colleagues in the other force areas, including Greater Manchester Police, to solve these burglaries. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Bulletproof vests, raves, Strangeways few fashion pioneers have quite the history of the Donnelly boys. Drugs paraphernalia was recovered including 1.5kg of heroin, scales, and a hydraulic press for preparing the drug in bulk amounts for the wholesale trade. Do the right thing, work hard, make it happen for you, and leave things behind. He played a violent mobster alongside Mick Jagger in Performance (1970) and a London crime boss in Get Carter (1971). Until then, the name had referred only to Wythenshawe Hall and its grounds. The 2017 general election saw the largest vote share for Labour in the history of both the current and former Wythenshawe seat with 62.2% of the vote and a 15,000 majority, though the 2019 election saw this fall back to approximate previous levels with a majority of 10,396 and a 53.3% share of the vote. But officers from Operation Heart, run by GMP and South Yorkshire Police, intercepted Bedesha's hire car in Mere, Knutsford, as he was travelling to London. Laura Smith, aged 26, of Elizabeth Drive, Newcastle-under-Lyme, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years. The rest was built after the Second World War, starting in the late 1940s as wartime building restrictions were relaxed. These are Europe's most wanted women - including a voodoo sex trafficker and a woman who blasted her husband in the head, Pet shop ban for this Stoke-on-Trent thug who knocked out owner in row over dog, 'He'll serve less than 9 years per baby he killed' - Mum's horror as triple murderer who suffocated his own flesh and blood moved to open prison, Police discover crack cocaine and heroin stash in drug-dealer's shed, Baseball bat-wielding dog rescue volunteer threatens customer at this animal sanctuary, The big changes hitting the UK housing market in March, After a spell of rampant house price growth, the outlook for the UK property market now looks much more uncertain. 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[4] The money will be distributed via the mayor of Greater Manchester's charity. We remain absolutely steadfast in our commitment to tackling organised crime and drug supply within Doncaster and South Yorkshire, to keep our residents safe. From the 1990s to the 2000s, the houses that were built and owned by the council were transferred to the control of local housing associations, such as Willow Park in east Wythenshawe and Parkway Green in west Wythenshawe. [22] In addition to the building of the new Metrolink lines and stations, a new public transport hub was built in Wythenshawe Town Centre which opened in June 2015 and includes a new bus station and tram stop. The gang was headed by Nico Edgar assisted by Kayson Thomas. Shazia Din, of The Drive, Bury, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin; conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely MDMA; conspiracy to supply class B drugs, namely cannabis, and conspiracy to convert and transfer criminal property. 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Our partnership working also saw the seizure of significant amounts of drugs, which cause untold harm within our communities, and cash ill-gotten gains from this groups criminal lifestyle. [19] On modern maps, its north edge is the southern branch of Ringway Road. [citation needed], In June 2022, Manchester City Council announced the purchase of Wythenshawe town centre from St. Modwen Properties as part of wider plans to transform the town centre. Public services have been working hard to find and help them, but we know they are over-stretched and working round the clock. The implication is that he and his brother Chris, co-founders of Gio-Goi, the Manchester fashion label that, at its height, was raking in 40m a year, have reputations the sort supposedly linked to guns, gangs and drugs that have made people rather scared of them. He was spotted in a London pub by Ken Loach, who asked him to star in his film Poor Cow (1967). In 2006, a firm bought Newall Green Farm's buildings from Manchester Corporation. Wythenshawe has twelve parks and 18 woodland areas including Wythenshawe Park, which was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2011. But it wasn't body lotion, lipstick, perfume and mascara which financed the family's penchant for Rolex watches, the leasing of luxury cars, jewellery and multiple properties. It is home to Manchester Airport and Wythenshawe Hospital (part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust), which are two of the largest employers in the area. The Forum centre, which opened in 1971, houses a library, leisure centre, swimming pool, cafe and other amenities, has also been renovated in a more modern style. "The gangs would either befriend, manipulate or force their way into their homes with the intention of using it to store and sell drugs a term known as cuckooing. The offences occurred between October and December 2013. "It was clear this activity was only going to get worse unless we found a long-term solution to disrupt the gangs who were brazenly violent.". Beth Abbit, editor of the M.E.N's Mancunian Way newsletter, puts readers to the test, 'I wish this house could be picked up and put somewhere else': Dad desperate to leave problem area after he's left terrified, Adam Waring has been left so shaken by the incident he's already viewed other houses, 'I rejected Manchester United Class of 2011 for Liverpool went to prison and became a professional boxer'. Newall Green Farm survived on the edge of the Newall Green housing estate area and was still occupied and run as a farm until the early 21st century when its last occupant died, when it was abandoned and fenced off. [16][17] It covers over 270 acres (110ha) of green space and is home to Manchester's only community farm, Wythenshawe community farm. For thirty years it also housed the Forum Theatre, but this closed in 2002 and a health clinic and an adult education facility now occupy its space. Manchester Airport, the third largest in the UK, is immediately to the south. The men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Temporary fuel pumps were installed. Joshua Beardmore was described as a 'local dealer'. These days, following all sorts of interventions, Wythenshawe is a safer and nicer place, though still far more crime ridden than neighbouring areas. The label is owned by JD Sports now, and is planning a major comeback, with the brothers in a supervisory role, while they focus the bulk of their attention on their new label, Your Own, a growing concern with aspirations to go global. [24], In 2009, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York (former wife of Prince Andrew) went to Wythenshawe to make a television documentary for ITV1 entitled The Duchess on the Estate. Shazia Din and Natalie Wrafter played leading roles in transpennine racketeering - and even sealed one deal in the car park of a prison, Sign up for our daily newsletter to get the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox. But the union was not to be straightforward, and there were frequent clashes over respective working methods. Adam Hopewell, 32, of Whitcomb Drive, Rossington, who pleaded guilty before trial to conspiracy to supply class A drugs namely cocaine and heroin; conspiracy to supply class B drugs namely amphetamine; conspiracy to convert and transfer criminal property and conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely MDMA. Lewis Darcy, 21, of Whitcomb Drive, New Rossington, was convicted of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for five years. Rico Robinson, aged 29, of Morland Road, Old Trafford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin in Cheshire, and supplying crack cocaine and heroin in the Greater Manchester area. "But I feel quite guarded about certain things. One gang member allegedly had a finger cut off in a dispute. The last time Man United were at Anfield, Liverpool scented blood. Some 777 crimes were reported in the area in. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. It was also clear in this case vulnerable people were exploited to further the illegal trade in drugs. Know what I mean? I broke down". A bypass connecting it to the nearby M60 motorway was built through Sharston and opened in 1974. Nico Edgar, aged 21, of Tipton Drive, Northern Moor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and sentenced to six years and four months in prison. Which makes one wonder why they decided to commit their story to page in the first place. The first time I saw those guns was when you brought me into this. Named Northenden for Wythenshawe, Northenden railway station was closed on 30 November 1964. Altrincham and Hale lie to the south-west, Sale to the north-west and the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport to the east, with the suburbs of Gatley and Heald Green bordering onto Wythenshawe's eastern side. The gang is supposed to have existed from the 1960s through to till the 1980s. [6] One proposition was that Manchester City Council could sell the building to the National Trust. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. . Fabion Wilks would hire cars to travel into Macclesfield from Manchester, where he would supply crack cocaine and heroin to users. Both Wilks and Chyna Jasper - who had significant roles - were caught directly supplying undercover officers with drugs. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. From cradle to grave, the National Health Service is a part of British life. Frank Burton died in the blast in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester shortly after . The Green Party have gained councillors in the Woodhouse Park ward in both the 2021 and 2022 elections. 5d. Dozens of text messages would be sent out in bursts, or 'flares', to local dealers daily - and word would spread. A woman was raped by a group of men in a park in what police described as a "random and sickening attack". The amount stolen was worth in excess of 100,000. [2012] Produced for POPS by Engage with Media http://engagewithmedia.org/ Project funded by. A North Staffordshire man and woman have been sentenced for their roles in an organised crime gang behind the wholesale supply of crack cocaine and heroin. We have disrupted the supply of drugs and cash payments between the regions of not just Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, but across the UK. Work finally begins on 250m Therme mega water park and tropical spa next to Trafford Centre, EventCity has been demolished and building works have begun on the huge indoor water park, More than 50 drivers spotted breaking law in hours on major Greater Manchester road, GMP have vowed to crack down on illegal behaviour in the area, Man smashed into bathroom where his girlfriend was hiding and carried out horror attack, Young woman missing for more than a year may have been 'killed by man who knew her family', "We want to keep Alisha in peoples memories", Erik ten Hag will not make the same mistake Manchester United made last time at Liverpool. Police said he attempted to discard a bag containing between 50 and 80 drug deals by throwing them out of the car's window. Just a nice place to go and. "He has had a positive effect as people are now not . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Stephen Day, aged 46, of Great King Street, Macclesfield, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and was sentenced to three years, four months. All were in possession of cash, encrypted mobile phones, and luxury items including Rolex watches and a 60,000 diamond ring. Click here to join and follow the instructions on your phone. "If you've got a story to tell," Anthony says, "tell it well. Something went wrong, please try again later. Work finally begins on 250m Therme mega water park and tropical spa next to Trafford Centre, EventCity has been demolished and building works have begun on the huge indoor water park, More than 50 drivers spotted breaking law in hours on major Greater Manchester road, GMP have vowed to crack down on illegal behaviour in the area, Man smashed into bathroom where his girlfriend was hiding and carried out horror attack, Young woman missing for more than a year may have been 'killed by man who knew her family', "We want to keep Alisha in peoples memories", Erik ten Hag will not make the same mistake Manchester United made last time at Liverpool. wythenshawe gangsters. ", Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? We have.". It is surrounded by some of the most affluent areas in the UK. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Nick Duerden hears how the brothers rose from gangland beginnings to make 40m with a streetwear brand that captivated everyone from Sir Alex Ferguson to Kate Moss, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Anthony Donnelly, who in certain circles warrants the prefix "infamous", leans forward, arms on thighs, his blue eyes staring out from beneath the peak of his baseball cap. Shootings and murders increased in frequency in the area. Tayte Taylor-Bell, aged 22, of Highfield Road, Stretford, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine was sentenced to three years, four months. Northenden's Riverside Park is the first new park to be established in the city in the 21st century. Closing Northern Quarter hotspot is staying in the fam as it reveals what will take over Oldham Street venue, Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun closed in February and have this week revealed who will be moving into the NQ venue, Horrific images show severed ANIMAL LEGS among fly-tipped rubbish in Manchester alleyway, 'Get checked out': Warning of parents whose son's pains and rash were much more serious, "When they phoned me to tell me I remember just screaming. Officers were called at 12.30am this morning (Tuesday April 20) to the reports of a woman, aged in her 20s, being attacked. The unit in Oram Street, on the Chesham Industrial Estate in Bury, Ecstasy tablets found in the office of the 'Beauty Booth', The 10,000 in cash and an encrypted phone found in a car driven by drugs courier Lewis Yates, Cash seized from the home of Abia Din in Bury, Left to right: Shazia Din, 42; Abia Din, 45; Hassan Din, 21; and Peter Wrafter, 57, The 170,000 in cash found in a hire car driven by Arjan Bedesha, Left to right: Lewis Darcy, 21; Rachel Turpin, 38; James Dickson, 60; Mark Bird, 33; and Rocky Smith, 31, The 66,000 in cash and money counter seized by police from an address in Bury controlled by the Din family, Left to right: David Wright, 53; Graham Towriss; Jonathon Ramsbotton, 36; Lewis Yates, 31, and Alan Forster, 41, Left to right: Natalie Wrafter, 31; Adam Hopewell, 32; Melvyn Sheldon, 39; and Lee Davis, 37, One of the luxury cars leased by Shazia and Abia Din. Even the then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took to wearing a Gio-Goi beanie hat at games. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Very well.". Part of a gang who conspired to burgle houses and steal high powered expensive vehicles from residents in south Manchester and Cheshire have been sentenced. Seven gangs were identified in total, as well as a number of 'sole trader' drug dealers, although the biggest four groups all had ties to Manchester. In a book careful not to corroborate anything that might be used in evidence against them, the passage on his time in prison is revealing. Manchester Wythenshawe was a parliamentary constituency created in 1950 and represented by Alf Morris of the Labour Party between 1964 and 1997. Kayson Thomas, aged 21, of Oakcliffe Road, Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to four years, eight months. Wright gave Din an envelope before driving to Longley Lane in Wythenshawe. Police said the gang would send around 60 text messages to drug users on a daily basis. It comprised several terrace houses, a small shop, two or more old cottages, a chapel, and the Ringway Haulage Company. Before the 1997 election, the boundaries were redrawn and part of the neighbouring area of Sale included in the seat. This was the late 1980s, a time of Acid House and the rise of Madchester, the music scene as dominated by fashion and Ecstasy as it was by the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. They befriended, and subsequently dressed, many of the Madchester acts, and soon all sorts craved their sartorial swagger: snooker's Alex Higgins, boxing's Nigel Benn. In total 28 kilos of heroin worth just under 3m was recovered from the vehicle and inside the flat. 5d. This started attracting negative news and media headlines, with the nickname of 'Gunchester' being used to sum up this increase in gang, drugs and firearms activity. This time, United are the sharks looking for their kill. [23] The company was later acquired by Electrium, which is now under Siemens' ownership. Police said that on two occasions, residents who tried to film footage of deals being made in public parks had their mobile phones smashed. In a second switch the holdall was then given to another courier, Arjan Bedesha. Estimated as being at the top of the gang league (of gangs named The Workhouse Park Clowns . Mark Lovenbury, aged 35, of Dawson Road, Bollington, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to supplying crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to two years, four months behind bars. Within a couple of years, the label was being hailed as Manchester's rough-hewn equivalent of Yves St Laurent, and clearing, they claim, 3m a day. A week later police caught Davis loading heroin into his van outside a flat in Salford. They also had use of expensive lease cars, including a Mercedes worth 50,000. The three women gangsters joined forces to run one of the biggest drugs operations in the north. Giving young people affected by gang and youth violence a voice in Wythenshawe, Manchester. Although Northenden already had a shopping area on Palatine Road, the earliest new shops were built in the 1930s and included parades on Hollyhedge Road, and on Altrincham Road in Sharston (the latter was demolished in 1973 to make way for the M56 Sharston bypass). It will be shown on Discovery's Quest channel (Sky 167 / Virgin 172 / Freeview 38) Most Read Police then carried out two major strikes. "I'm not offended by your questions, they're good questions," he says. Philip Pagin, of Bankwood Lane, Doncaster, who was convicted by jury of conspiracy to supply class B drugs, namely amphetamine. Wythenshawe gradually acquired all the amenities and facilities that the original planners had neglected to include with the building of several new schools, shops, pubs and churches. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, Wythenshawe was divided into six local government wards: Baguley, Benchill, Northenden, Sharston, Woodhouse Park and Brooklands (the latter being an area divided with the neighbouring borough of Trafford). Test yourself with these 12 questions, Do you know your local leaders from your Manchester suburbs? Kane Birch, aged 23, of Ainsbrook Avenue, Moston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to four years. Police later raided an apartment. Their 'Beauty Booth' company - housed in a unit on the Chesham Industrial Estate - was, say police, a front for money laundering and supplying drugs. We stay private. by / May 23, 2022. "We come from a very hard-working background, so when we put our minds to something, we expect to do well. This was the UK's first municipal airfield, operating between April 1929 and early 1930. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Some of the present housing estates were named after former farms. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 1. Fellow inmates, he writes, "told me [that] whatever I needed, whatever I wanted, was available to me. Crime Drama Hard-hitting drama in which Maurice Colbourne plays John Kline, a former SAS operative and convicted criminal who is released from prison and recruited to act as an undercover agent within Birmingham's underworld. "We were not nice people," Anthony admits early on in the book. Rapist who said murder was game gone wrong jailed. The district is under the authority of Manchester City Council. Police chiefs said their operation was triggered by 'serious and volatile' disputes between the rival gangs and others. But success didn't rein them in and suddenly render them sensible businessmen. By searching through the history on these devices we were able to link the men with the crimes. If you want more information on signing up, or if this link doesnt work, click here. Part of Benchill (not the area southwest of Gladeside Road) and some areas in the north were built before World War II and called the Wythenshawe Ward of the City of Manchester. [4], The name of Wythenshawe seems to come from the Old English wiign = "withy tree" and sceaga = "wood" (compare dialectal word shaw). It was constant.". Most of the farm buildings in the Wythenshawe area were demolished when the estate was built. Tayte Taylor-Bell taught a 16-year-old boy how to deal drugs while he himself would regularly travel from Manchester to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Within 48 hours I was having my own way in there.". In February last year Hassan Din was seen by undercover police passing a large holdall to David Wright on a street in Bury. Has plenty to offer the community in the way of activities. The victim, aged in her 20s, was ambushed as she walked through Kirkup Gardens in Wythenshawe at around 12.30am. Lee Davis, 37, of Polefield Hall Road, Prestwich, who pleaded guilty before trial to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin. Natalie Wrafter and Shazia Din exchanging thousands of pounds worth of drug money in a prison car park. Anything but. Police said three others were due to be sentenced later this month. It is home to around 66,000 persons, all of them related to the same two people. Things could get compromising. Youngsters were pressured into street dealing and addicts and the vulnerable were recruited against their will, or to pay off debts. Shadow Moss is an area south of Ringway Road in the southeast corner of Wythenshawe. The new constituency is called Wythenshawe and Sale East. In September last year, Wilks was arrested outside Macclesfield Town Football Club in his BMW after a police pursuit. A certain awkward etiquette (and cowardice) prevents me from asking them outright whether the police's suspicions which the brothers have always denied had any substance.