Overview

• Judge Michael Fanning jailed Anthony Shaw for five years, Kian Bobmanuel for 32 months, Reece Lomas for 27 months and Sean Darbyshire for three years at Carlisle Crown Court.
• Prosecutors said Shaw orchestrated the county‑lines operation after arriving in a Carlisle hostel, recruiting Darbyshire, sourcing crack from Manchester and using a BMW on cloned plates.
• The drugsline was activated on January 23 and a detective quickly observed a street deal linked to a silver BMW, which was then followed to a dead end before the four were arrested after a short foot chase.
• Officers recovered a burner phone and crude paper cards advertising the drugs number, 153 crack wraps from a Carlisle hotel room and heroin, cocaine and crack hidden in an air fryer at a Manchester flat.
• Cumbria Police highlighted collaboration with Merseyside and Greater Manchester forces, while a fifth man, Kyle Dooley, has admitted offences and awaits sentencing.