A drug dealer’s girlfriend ended up recruiting her mother, father and brother to his gang after an arrest threatened to put her luxurious lifestyle to an end.
Jonathan Walsh, 33, met Jodie Bowie on Facebook while in prison serving a 14-year sentence for armed robbery, moving in with her when he got out.
From Failsworth, Oldham, he headed up a drugs network that trafficked amphetamine and cannabis to the East Midlands – and also provided girlfriend Bowie with designer goods, high-powered cars and cosmetic surgery.
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Bowie’s uncle Joseph Grey worked as one of Walsh’s couriers, but when he was arrested, Bowie roped in her mum, dad and brother to help move cash generated by the ‘sophisticated’ operation.
The family has now been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, where it was heard how Bowie was ‘fearless when it came to spending money’.
During a first raid on her home, police found more than £100,000 ($136,000) worth of designer clothes, as well as £10,000 ($13,000) in cash.
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Another visit from police recovered clothing valued at £27,000 ($36,000) and another £5,410 ($7,300) in cash, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Messages on Bowie’s phone also showed her making plans with Walsh to splash out £5,000 ($6,800) on cosmetic surgery.
Describing the weeks after Walsh and Bowie moved in together, prosecutor Tom Challinor said: "Over a very short period of time Walsh began to accrue possessions of a lavish lifestyle, including Rolex watches, designer clothing, and driving expensive cars at £1,300 a month.
"They decked out their house in lavish decor which indicated that sort of lifestyle.
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"Jodie Bowie worked at the time but was not on the sort of income which could have supported that lifestyle.
"When Grey was arrested and his [Walsh's] operation was affected, she knew she had to do something about it - and that something was to recruit her family, namely her mother, brother and dad who assisted in the operation.
"When it came to spending money, she was fearless."
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Walsh was caught following a police chase, with officers finding 15kg of vacuum sealed packs of cannabis worth £150,000 ($200,000).
The court heard how he had trafficked drugs from the north west to Nottinghamshire, using various people to do his ‘dirty work’ such as moving drugs and cash.
When Grey was stopped by police after being seen handing a package to Walsh, Bowie enlisted mum Janice, dad David and brother Lee to transport cash – travelling to Mansfield and back on at least 21 occasions – she told them where to go and warned them to delete their messages.
Grey’s arrest also prompted Walsh to find another courier, Kaylum Davies, who delivered drugs on three occasions until he was arrested.
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The court heard how Davies’ sister Chelsea – who was also the girlfriend of Walsh’s brother Noel – also stored a significant amount of amphetamine in her freezer, and was recruited to sell cannabis to her friends.
Sentencing the gang, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: “Cannabis is responsible for psychosis, depression and paralysis. It ruins lives equally damaged by OCGs such as this one in our society. This group was associated with firearms that cause fear and harm.
"Jodie Bowie, you recruited family members as couriers and sent them messages in regards to meeting places and telling them they should delete messages.
"You stood to gain financially from this, I accept you did have personal income, but that income did not enable you to have the kind of lifestyle that you apparently did."
Walsh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering, and was also later found guilty of other offences, and was jailed for 15 years.
Bowie received 21 months imprisonment - suspended for two years - and a three-month curfew between 7pm and 5.30am after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class B cannabis and money laundering. She was also handed 140 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Her father David Bowie, 52, received 10 months imprisonment - suspended for 18 months - and 80 hours unpaid work and £300 ($400) in costs, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
His wife Janice Bowie, 53, received 12 months imprisonment - suspended for 18 months – along with 80 hours unpaid work and £400 ($500) in costs, after being found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
Lee Bowie, 34, Newton Heath, is due to be sentenced at a later date, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property.
Grey pleaded guilty to firearm offences and later to drugs and money laundering, and was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years.
Kaylum Davies, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A heroin and conspiracy to supply class B amphetamine and cannabis, and was jailed for three years.
His sister Chelsea received 14 months imprisonment - suspended for two years – plus 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours unpaid work, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B amphetamine and conspiracy to supply class B cannabis.
Her boyfriend Noel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B and money laundering and was sentenced to three years.
Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Norman, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: "This was a lengthy and intricate operation dedicated to dismantling this criminal group.
"It's hard to comprehend just how damaging these weapons and drugs could've been on our streets had police not recovered them first.
"We've now managed to make sure these people remain in jail for a significant amount of time, and our community is now a safer place with them behind bars.
"I hope this operation sends a clear message that GMP will work relentlessly to pursue anyone involved in the supply of harmful drugs and weapons."
Jess Hardiman