Final member of drugs gang unmasked

TODAY, The Evening Star can finally unmask the final member of a drugs gang which was sentenced to a total of 37 years in prison.

Darius Pascal was only 17 when he conspired to supply crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Ipswich but turned 18 after admitting the charge.

The judge in the case, David Goodin, upheld an order banning his identification, but the Star successfully challenged that ruling, therefore allowing today's publication of his name and photograph.

Pascal, of Plaistow in London, and six others, including Kirsha Dyer, the sister of ex-Ipswich Town star Kieron, were snared by drugs cops as part of Ipswich police's Operation Adrenaline.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how Pascal had three previous convictions for supplying Class A drugs. He was sentenced to four and-a-half-years.

Police said the gang, known as the J Business, sold hard drugs to four of the five prostitutes murdered by serial killer Steve Wright.

Test purchases, applications for crack house closures and the use of detailed forensics, including DNA, fingerprinting, mobile phone technology and drug testing helped catch the gang.

Dyer's car, which was had a personalised number plate - K18 DYR - and had been given to her as an 18th birthday present by her brother, was regularly used to make drug runs to and from London.

The Peugeot car was fitted with a listening device which provided prosecutors with key evidence.

The gang, which had an Ipswich HQ in Canterbury Close, also included Maxwell Appah, of Canterbury Close, Simon Akakpo, 21 of Southend Road, Rainham, Essex, Dare Salau, of Canterbury Close, Pannick Nikuna, of 21 North Road, Edgware, and Dyer, 20, of Belstead Road, Ipswich.

A seventh defendant Lewis Self, 28, of Wilding Road, Ipswich is to be sentenced at a later date.

Is your community blighted by drugs? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk