‘Trusted lieutenant’ in a North East organised crime group put behind bars

Simon Lancaster, 34, was part of a gang in the North East previously locked up for their roles in a criminal network.

Leader Shaun Monaghan, 45, of no fixed address, and four associates were caged for distributing huge quantities of Class A drugs across the North East in October.

The criminal network supplied multi-kilo quantities of cocaine, heroin and amphetamine to drug dealers and possessed dangerous weapons.

Monaghan hit world headlines when he was arrested in Turkey in 2023 after an Interpol red notice was issued against him.

The other four, sentenced alongside him, were Bryn Bowden, James White, James Ramshaw, and Stephen Graham.

All five previously pleaded guilty to charges against them.

Lancaster, of no fixed address, also pleaded guilty on the basis he was acting under the instruction of others but his sentence was deferred until today (Tuesday, December 9).

He was jailed for 14 years and eight months by Her Honour Judge Julie Clemitson at Newcastle Crown Court.

He had admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine, firearms and ammunition. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply heroin, bringing the total number of charges to six.

The CPS previously said that Lancaster was gang boss Monaghan's "trusted lieutenant".

The network, which used modified vehicles to move drugs around, "masqueraded as essential workers" during the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown, the court had heard, while members hid their guns in their families' homes.

The CPS said the group collected huge amounts of cash from customers, with approximately £1.3 million sent to just one supplier during a one-month period in April 2020.

Industrial quantities of drugs were distributed by the group not only across the North East but the UK, using "stash" vehicles with hidden compartments

The gang communicated using EncroChat phones, an encrypted network which they believed to be impregnable by police and on which they exchanged "candid" messages about their criminal operations.

The network was compromised by authorities in 2020 and Lancaster, as well as Monaghan, fled the UK when he got a notification from EncroChat saying the network had been busted.

Lancaster fled to Dubai, where he was jailed before being released, and he then made his way to Thailand on a false passport, before heading to Oman on the same documentation. He was jailed in Oman for travelling with a false passport and deported back to the UK.

During one police raid a live hand grenade was found amongst an arsenal of other weapons at one of their "nana's" houses and the British Army were drafted in to carry out a controlled explosion of the device.

Judge Clemitson told the gang in October their illegal trade had caused pain and destruction to many people, both "wretched souls" caught in addiction and the victims of the crimes committed to fund drug habits.

She said the drug dealers were "feeding off the misery" they caused and the message had to be sent out that the "potential rewards" were "just not worth the risk".

In October, Monaghan, 45, of no fixed address, who used the handle Masterpasser, as well as others, during EncroChat conversations, has convictions for robbery and drugs.

He admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine, amphetamine and heroin and conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition and has now expressed remorse.

Bowden, 28, of West Farm Avenue, Longbenton, who used the handle Knownhippo, admitted conspiracy to supply amphetamine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and conspiracy to possess ammunition. He admitted involvement on the basis his involvement was limited and for a short period.

He was jailed for seven years.

James White, 45, of Orchard Drive, Newcastle, who did not use an EncroChat device, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine. He claimed he got involved in storing drugs after he ran up a debt.

He was jailed for six years.

Steven Graham, 44, of Alston Gardens, Throckley, who called himself Angryhippo, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to possess firearms and claimed his role was limited.

He was jailed for eight years.

James Ramshaw, 41, of Hambleton Court, Ashington, Northumberland, who used the handle Weyayeman has a conviction for murder from 2005 and was out on life licence at the time.

He admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine as a "dogsbody" and was not involved in the weapons offences. He has now been recalled to continue serving the life sentence.

He was jailed for nine years and four months.