Six sentenced after police investigation into York Class A drugs supply

Michael David Fox

75 year-old Doreen Fox, 40 year-old Michael Fox, both of Peter Hill Drive, York, and 29 year-old Sophie Anne Glasbey of Snig Hill, Sheffield, have today been sentenced at York Crown Court today (22 June 2022) to prison sentences after pleading guilty to charges relating to the supply of Class A drugs and money laundering.

Sophie Glasbey

The defendants are the final three to be sentenced following an extensive police investigation which saw three others receive prison sentences towards the end of last year.

Brett Vincent Lill

50 year-old Brett Lill of Flaxman Avenue, York, 28 year-old Ciaran Angell of The Croft, Strensall and 27 year-old Joshua Davenport of Grange Avenue, Rossendale, Lancashire, all plead guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and were sentenced on 29 October 2021 at York Crown Court.

Ciaran Angell

Lill received seven years four months, Angell received seven years six months and Davenport received three years eight months in prison.

Joshua Davenport

Michael Fox received four years four months, Doreen Fox received seven months and Sophie Glasbey received ten months in prison.

The police investigation began in early 2021 when Lill and Angell were identified as being involved in supplying drugs in the York area. Davenport was acting as their courier, transporting the drugs from a supplier in the Bury area of Greater Manchester.

On a number of occasions, Davenport was seen meeting Lill and/or Angell at a car park on the outskirts of York where they would arrive in separate vehicles, then Lill or Angell would sit in Davenport’s vehicle for a minute or two, before getting back out and leaving the scene.

Officers suspected these meet ups were to purchase drugs which were then taken to one of their respective addresses. Through the investigation it became apparent that Michael Fox was working for Lill and Angell, selling and distributing the drugs on the streets of York.

On 11 June 2021, Davenport’s vehicle travelled into York where he met up with Lill and Angell. Suspecting this had been to exchange drugs and cash, a coordinated strike was called and officers were deployed to stop Lill and Angell’s vehicle.

Angell was arrested in the vehicle but Lill attempted to make off from the scene before he was swiftly detained. Whilst running, he had thrown a package into the undergrowth and with the help of a police dog and handler, this was quickly located, seized and later found to be cocaine.

Davenport’s vehicle was stopped and searched where officers found £5700 of cash, a mobile phone which had been used to contact Lill and Angell and he also tested positive for cocaine.

At the same time, Lill and Angell’s addresses were searched. At Lill’s home there was a safe in the kitchen containing expensive watches and a further safe in the bedroom which contained more watches and cash. A drugs press was in the shed and in the house were instructions for chemical conversion of drugs, alongside a suspected debt list.  

Shortly after, officers searching Michael Fox’s home address found a set of scales, plastic snap bags, a quantity of white powder and a number of mobile phones.

A further search was then carried out at the home of Michael Fox’s mother, Doreen Fox, which revealed sachets of cocaine kept in a cup in the kitchen and £4800 of cash. Due to the fact Michael Fox was unemployed, officers strongly suspected the cash was profits from his drug dealing.

Following interviews and continued investigation, it became apparent that Doreen Fox was assisting Michael Fox in managing the profits of his drug dealing for Angell and Lill. She plead guilty to money laundering.

North Yorkshire Police Detective Constable Bev Hoban commented on the case:

“This investigation has led to the conviction of an Organised Crime Group who supplied cocaine into the communities of York and profited from doing so. The sentences will hopefully be a deterrent to others involved in drug dealing on the streets of York and North Yorkshire.

“Lill and Angell had been living a lifestyle beyond their means for a long time. They set up and operated businesses in York which we suspected had been financed through criminal gains from their drug dealing. We believe they used Michael Fox to deal on their behalf to keep themselves distanced from the street level supply, but still reap the financial rewards.

“We continue to need the support of our communities to be able to target criminals like this and stop them causing harm. If you have any information which you think would assist us in taking action against others dealing drugs in our neighbourhoods then please call 101 or report this via our website. If you prefer to remain anonymous you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Lill, Angell, Davenport and Michael Fox all plead guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, Doreen Fox plead guilty to money laundering and Sophie Anne Glasbey plead guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.