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Pusher suspects rounded up in police operation.

27/12/2002

Seven men and two women from Middleton and a Moston man have appeared before Rochdale magistrates following a police operation to crack down on drug dealing on the Langley Estate in Middleton.

The undercover blitz on drug traders, codenamed Operation Infinity was run in parallel with a police clinic service established at various points on the overspill estate for the benefit of drug addicts.

The nine defendants, alleged to have been dealing in drugs, either pleaded not guilty or reserved their plea. They were remanded for committal to Crown Court in Manchester on 31 January.

Mother-of-four Pamela Silver (40), of Copeland Close, Middleton, is charged with offering to supply heroin to an undercover police officer and being concerned in the supply of heroin, a controlled Class A drug.

Brian Radcliffe (34), of Martindale Crescent, Langley, faces five charges of supplying heroin and c rack cocaine, five of possessing a controlled drug and three charges of being concerned in drug dealing.

Darren Michael O'Connor (32), of Copeland Close, Middleton, is charged with offering to supply heroin to an undercover policeman, being concerned with the supply of heroin and possessing the drug cannabis.

Michael Roberts (35), of Elmbridge Walk, Moston, faces two charges of drugs supply to an undercover police officer.

Leslie Christopher Stubbs (41), of Helvellyn Drive, Middleton, is charged twice with supplying heroin and Alan Philip Cobain (35), of Mosedale Road, Langley, faces four charges of supplying heroin.

Neil Harry Fleming (46), of Windermere Road, Langley, faces three charges of supplying wraps of heroin to undercover cops and one of being concerned in drugs dealing.

Dawn Katherine Boothman (30), of Mosedale Road, Middleton, faces one charge of supplying heroin and another of supplying crack cocaine and Tamara Simone Horrocks (34), of Windermere Road, Langley, faces one charge of supplying wraps of heroin.

John Clare (45), of Bowness Road, Middleton, six charges of supplying heroin or cocaine to an undercover officer and one of possessing heroin.

Mr Mark Humphreys, prosecuting, said the police operation began last month when surveillance was kept on people believed to be dealing in drugs on the estate. Addicts were said to be buying illegal drugs at the rate of £30 to £50 a day.