‘Ghost’ line drug dealers busted by Scarborough detectives
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The ringleader of the conspiracy was Riccardo Nathaniel Donalds (pictured below), 36, of Oscott Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to seven years and one month at York Crown Court today (Wednesday 12 March 2025)
He failed to appear for sentencing back in November and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Previous court report from November 2004...
County lines drug dealers from the West Midlands - operating under the name ‘Ghost’ - have today (Tuesday 5 November 2024) been sentenced at York Crown Court for flooding Scarborough with heroin and crack cocaine between August 2017 and January 2018.
Christina Stelious Xiourroupas (picture above), 35, of Old Grange Road, Birmingham, got three and a half years’ imprisonment.
Javough Denmar Ennis (pictured above), 27, currently of HMP Leicester, got two years’ imprisonment.
Neil Kenneth Gordon (pictured above), 22, of Sandstone Road, Eastfield, Scarborough, got two and a half years’ imprisonment.
A further three members were sentenced at York Crown Court on 17 October:
Patrick King (pictured above), 38, of Osler Street, Birmingham, got four and a half years’ imprisonment.
Daniel Keith Ellis (pictured above), 30, of Oscott Road, Birmingham, got three and a half years’ imprisonment.
Theo John Waldron (pictured above), 29, of Longwestgate, Scarborough, got a 15-month suspended sentence as he was already in prison.
They came to the attention of Scarborough Police during the early hours of 16 January 2018 when a vehicle driven by King was stopped in Scarborough.
Donalds, Ennis and Ellis were inside and weapons, mobile phones and digital scales with traces of heroin and crack cocaine were recovered from the vehicle.
On 25 January 2018, Waldron was arrested in possession of heroin with intent to supply. His phone was seized and examined which showed links to the ‘Ghost’ group.
What followed was a complex investigation into the group and their activities that, eventually, linked in Neil Gordon. He was aged 16 at the time and was taking direction from Donalds and the others to supply to local Class A users in Scarborough.
Mobile phone analysis, call data analysis and ANPR evidence, showed the group were working together - with Donalds at the helm - to sell heroin and crack cocaine in Scarborough using several deal lines.
Financial investigations showed thousands of pounds passing through the bank accounts of Donalds and Xiourroupas, who was Donalds’ partner at the time.
CCTV also captured other group members paying money into Donalds’ bank account in Scarborough, while Donalds waited to withdraw the cash in the West Midlands.
All were subsequently charged in January 2023 with conspiring together to supply heroin and crack cocaine in Scarborough.
All pleaded guilty at various stages with Donalds, Xiourroupas and Ellis pleading on the day of their trial in September 2023.
King failed to appear at court, and it took several months for him to be apprehended which caused a further delay in bringing the case to a conclusion.
King was the only one who did not admit his crimes. He was found guilty by jury on 3 October 2024 following a four-day trial.
Gordon was arrested in March 2023 following a separate investigation where phone evidence showed he was supplying cocaine and cannabis.
When he was arrested a quantity of cocaine, cannabis and cash were recovered from Gordon’s address. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.
Gordon was also sentenced for the separate offences of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between September 2022 and March 2023 and possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis from March 2023.
Waldron had already been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment following his arrest in January 2018 for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Detective Constable Darrel Temple from Scarborough and Ryedale CID, who led the investigation, said:
“Referring to their own county lines drugs conspiracy as ‘Ghost’, the group thought they could operate with impunity between the West Midlands and Scarborough.
“Unfortunately for them, North Yorkshire Police ‘ain’t afraid of no ghost’ or any other drug dealers for that matter, and we set about a complex investigation to dismantle the gang.
“It has taken the best part of six years to secure justice against the offenders. This effort shows our determination to rid our community of the harms caused by drug-related crime.”
Reporting information about drug-related crime
Anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime are urged to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101 and speaking to the Force Control Room.
Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required.
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make a report online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
The signs of drug dealing can include
- Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night
- Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
- Different accents at a property
- Anti-social behaviour at a property
- Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
- Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes
- Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods
Get professional support for drug and alcohol related issues
- Drink Drug Hub website drinkdrughub.co.uk
- North Yorkshire Rise– young people's specialist drug and alcohol service- freephone 08000 14 14 80 (option 2) – humankindcharity.org.uk/service/nyrise/
- North Yorkshire Horizons- adult specialist drug and alcohol service - freephone 08000 14 14 80 – nyhorizons.org.uk/
- City of York Drug and Alcohol Service– https://www.changegrowlive.org/york/info
- NHS– https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/drug-addiction-getting-help/
- FRANK helpline and information - https://www.talktofrank.com/