Criminal gang members in Nottinghamshire and country-wide have been jailed for more than 100 years for spreading the “misery” of drugs in towns and cities.

Ten people were sentenced for their involvement in the case at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, August 22.

The longest sentence –18 years and eight months – was handed to Ben Mullins, 33, of Church Street, Ripley, in Derbyshire.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to producing amphetamine and conspiracy to supply amphetamine and cocaine.

Co-accused Anthony Donnelly, 31, of Southwell Road, Mansfield, a self-confessed steroid dealer, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to supply amphetamine.

Judge James Sampson, who sentenced the men, said Anthony Donnelly was the leader of the gang supplying amphetamine and an arrogant, dishonest man whose word was worthless.

Addressing them all as he handed out the sentences, he said: “All of you in various ways and varying degrees were peddling misery in the towns and cities in this country.”

The plot began to unravel in July last year when a van was stopped on the A1 near Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, containing ten kilos of amphetamine, worth an estimated £227,000.

The drugs were linked to Protein Masters store, owned by Anthony Donnelly, in King Street, in Sutton, and a warrant was executed at the vacant shop a few weeks later.

Officers from Nottinghamshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) discovered over seven kilos of a substance in residue form which contained amphetamine in buckets, drains and toilets within Protein Masters.

Also recovered was a vacuum packing machine and mixing tools, similar to those used in the construction industry.

Daniel Robinson, 30, of Paling Crescent, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Craig Donnelly, 23, of Barker Street, Huthwaite, each received 17 years, of which they serve half.

They were both found guilty after trial of conspiracy to produce amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cocaine. They each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply amphetamine.

The judge said they both played significant roles.

Michael Lawrence, 25, of Victoria Street, Stanton Hill, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and was jailed for nine years.

Richie Fido, 29, of Broad Lane, Brinsley, admitted conspiracy to produce amphetamine and conspiracy to supply amphetamine.

He was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Mason, of EMSOU, said: “This case demonstrates the complexity of drugs supply conspiracies which operate through a network of associates, some of whom may be located in different parts of the country, let alone the region.

“The number of suspects involved also gives a clue as to the level of detail the officers investigating the case had to uncover from their enquiries in order to piece together a successful prosecution case.

“We are grateful to our colleagues in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the other forces which helped us to carry out enforcement activity against the suspects.

“The East Midlands forces are determined to dismantle criminal groups which supply drugs to and within our region, and through EMSOU the forces have been targeting organised crime for a number of years now.

“This is the third case of its kind to be concluded at court this month and it is very satisfying to know that in just a matter of a few days more than 30 determined criminals from across the region who attempted to bring drugs into our communities have now been put behind bars.”