Headlines: Trams and ex-footballer jailed for drug smuggling
What have been the big stories in the West this week?
Former Bristol City footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a £600,000 cannabis smuggling operation.Bristol Live said the 34-year-old was arrested after authorities intercepted 60 kilograms of cannabis at Stansted Airport, concealed in suitcases arriving from Thailand. Emmanuel-Thomas had recruited two women, including his girlfriend, to transport the drugs. While the women were cleared of charges due to lack of evidence, Emmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence.The Swindon Advertiser published an interview with Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, who has supported calls to make cannabis a class A drug, which would bring it into line with drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.The Stroud News and Journal reported on an equine therapy centre in Stroud that is looking for a new home as its current one is up for sale.Could Bristol finally get a tram system? The current Metro Mayor Helen Godwin believes so. Bristol Live reported on a new government investment into the West of England's transport system earlier this week.Weston-super-Mare's club chairman stepped down this week after an incredible 39 years at the helm. The club said it believed he was one of the longest serving chairmen in English football.And if you're feeling flush with money, Somerset Live has reported on the luxury Glastonbury accommodation which will set you back £28,000 - though it comes with its own helicopter landing pad.
Top five local stories for the BBC in the West
Something longer to read
Bristol historian Eugene Byrne has written an article for the Bristol Cable, exploring the Bristolians who profited from the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.When Union soldiers blockaded American ports, the Confederates sent agents to the UK to purchase muskets and other weapons, and Bristolian ships were used as 'blockade runners' to try and evade patrolling warships.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
'Alright, alright, you got me man!' Moment police arrest cannabis gang advertising 'same day delivery service'
This is the moment police arrest a cannabis gang that offered an Amazon Prime-style 'same day delivery service'. Chaotic bodycam footage show officers storming the 'Smoke Shack' gang's drugs den in Bristol. Officers holding shields are seen chasing after gang member Jason Wilks through the home who sprints into a garden and tries to scale a fence. But police are able to grab hold of him before he escapes. As they scream at him to put his hands behind his back he is heard saying: 'Alright, alright, you got me man.' The brazen gang made branded clothing, and delivered the class B drug in a Deliveroo bag. They promoted the drugs operation on Instagram on social media and an encrypted messaging app offering 'in person' drop offs to hundreds of addresses across Bristol. The audacious gang - who even made branded clothing and stored drugs in a Deliveroo bag - would also send drugs across the country by post and made more than £100,000 a month. Jake Herault-Redman, 26, Callum Coen, 22, and Wilks, 30, all from Bristol, have now been jailed after appearing at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday. The footage from June 2024, shows officers from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Avon and Somerset Police executing a warrant at an address in Eastville, which was the hub of the drug supply operation. Upon entry, Wilks ran at officers assaulting one of them before running out of the back door where he was detained. Coen and Herault-Redman were arrested a short distance from the address having also fled the premises. Numerous weapons including machetes, air rifles, knives and baseball bats were recovered from around entrances to the address and a machete was found on the floor next to where the officer was assaulted. Following his arrest, Wilks said to officers 'the only reason I didn't machete you in the head is because I heard you shout 'police''. At the time of the arrests, officers seized 7kg of cannabis, including edibles, and over £3,800 in cash. A further £13,000 of cryptocurrency was seized from Herault-Redman's address along with over £3,330 worth of designer clothes. A large number of black bin bags were at the property in Eastville and found to contain hundreds of brown sandwich bags each with a postcode and cash or crypto amounts written on them. The bags would be used to deliver drugs and payment dropped into the bag in exchange. Jake Herault-Redman, 26, and Callum Coen, 22, were also part of the 'Smoke Shack' drugs gang. The duo and Wilks have all now been jailed All three men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs and acquiring criminal property, namely cash and cryptocurrency. Herault-Redman was sentenced to three years and three months. Coen was handed an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years. Wilks pleaded guilty to an additional offence of assaulting a police officer and was jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years. Acting Detective Inspector Stuart Cumine from SWROCU said: 'We estimate the group was making in excess of a hundred thousand pounds every month over a significant period of time; they even had the audacity to have 'The Smoke Shack' branded clothing made to promote their illegal trade. 'The sheer number of discarded brown sandwich bags found demonstrates the scale of their cannabis delivery service to people across the length and breadth of Bristol. 'If you're buying illegal drugs, you're not only funding organised crime groups, you are ignoring the exploitation involved in their cultivation, production and supply.'
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Hengrove tyres slashed: Avon & Somerset Police investigate
Eight vehicles have been damaged in an incident that has left a community feeling "terrorised".Avon and Somerset Police is investigating after vandals slashed the tyres of seven cars and van in Hengrove, Bristol, at about 1:10 BST on Tuesday. Police attended in minutes but were unable to find the suspects. A force spokesperson said: "Police were called [by a member of the public] who said they'd seen a group of people damaging tyres with a knife in Tarnock Avenue."In a post on Facebook, one resident said it is "basically terrorism in the community". Vehicles parked along Isabella Road, Griggfield Walk, Tarnock Avenue, Edmund Road, Walsh Avenue, Rodsfords Mead and Cornhill Drive were targeted. Ford, Peugeot, Seat, Toyota and Vauxhall vehicles were all have urged anyone with relevant information to call police.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Swindon road cordon remains as murder investigation continues
A police cordon remains in place as detectives continue to investigate the suspected murder of a man in his victim was taken to hospital for urgent treatment following the incident on Manchester Road in Swindon at about 05:10 on Wednesday, but later died from his injuries. A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with police also searching for the victim's next of Road remains closed in both directions between Rosebery Street and A4259 County Road. Det Ch Insp Phil Walker, who is leading the investigation, appealed for anyone with relevant information, dash cam, or CCTV footage to come officers would also like to speak to a member of the public who initially alerted nearby officers but did not leave his added that there was "no information to suggest that this incident is linked to a terrorism arrest", which took place in the same area in May.
