Middlesbrough man jailed for facilitating supply of cocaine

Craig Turner, 24, of Siddington Walk in Middlesbrough, was jailed for three years for his part in a group facilitating the supply of cocaine in the East Middlesbrough area using a drugs line identified under Operation Blackberry.

The group he was part of were observed dealing cocaine on ten occasions in February and March last year.

Craig Turner Jnr (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

Stephen Garbutt, 42, of Lighthouse View in Seaham, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and 25 days rehabilitation.

Forty-five-year-old Craig Turner, of The Wickets in Marton, Middlesbrough, was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must carry out rehabilitation for nine months.

Craig Turner Snr (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

Luke Turner, 22, of Linnet Close in Guisborough, is due to be sentenced on Friday, March 6 after pleading guilty to supplying a controlled drug of class A in November 2025.

It is the second criminal group identified by Cleveland Police and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

Luke Turner (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

Officers were working in the Project Orme area of east Middlesbrough.

During the three-month investigation, officers uncovered that a drugs line had been called 10,000 times in two months.

The line was being monitored by officers from Cleveland Police’s dedicated drugs unit with assistance from Middlesbrough’s community action team and NEROCU.

Stephen Garbutt (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

In November 2025, Curtis Cremin, 19, of Hubbard Walk in Middlesbrough, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after also supplying class A drugs through a drugs line in the east Middlesbrough area.

The 19-year-old was grooming and exploiting young teenage boys by recruiting them to hand over drugs to customers.

Curtis Cremin (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

Louie Leadbitter, 18, of Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough, was also sentenced to three years in prison.

Another teenager, Laiton Hopkins, 19 of Cotswold Avenue in Middlesbrough, was found guilty of supplying cocaine and was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

Cleveland Police said their criminality was conducted in broad daylight, mostly in playparks and outside schools.

Louie Leadbitter (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

They would also be balaclava-clad and riding electric and off-road bikes to try and conceal their identity.

Inspector Phil Morris, from Cleveland Police’s dedicated drugs unit, said: “Having now uncovered two separate criminal groups who were openly supplying cocaine and other drugs, we are pleased that we can now help safeguard people, particularly those exploited by criminal gangs, and stop these drugs getting out onto the streets of Middlesbrough.

Laiton Hopkins (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

“It also shows that in the area of east Middlesbrough we are working hard with partner agencies to combat organised crime and revitalise the area for residents, businesses and everyone affected there under Project Orme.”

Cleveland Police has also released a list of signs to look out for if you believe your child is being exploited, manipulated or forced to carry out criminal activity:

• They have more money and new expensive clothes or accessories.
• They have formed new relationships with older people or are hanging around in groups.
• They carry weapons and own multiple mobile phones.
• They are regularly missing from home or school
• There is a change in their emotional wellbeing or behaviour