Penshaw man part of group of four facing jail over supplying drugs
A man from Penshaw has been convicted as part of a gang of four North East men supplying drugs.
Graeme Rutherford, 52, Dale Dunn, 27, Jake Galea-Hughes, 29, and Jack Freeman, 23, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday each facing a charge of conspiracy to supply class C drugs between April 17 and April 25 this year. Galea-Hughes and Rutherford appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham.
All four men pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge at the afternoon hearing. Galea-Hughes also pleaded guilty to two counts of driving whilst disqualified, dating back to April this year.
The defendants, who have admitted conspiring together to supply drugs, will appear back at the court later this year to be sentenced. Judge Julie Clemitson told the men that they would receive credit for their guilty pleas, but said it is “highly likely” they would receive “significant custodial sentences”.
Rutherford, of Railway Cottages, Birtley; Dunn, of Mardale Gardens, Gateshead; Freeman, of Slaley Close, Gateshead, and Galea-Hughes, 29, of Whitefield Pit, Penshaw, Houghton, will return to the court on Friday, September 6 for sentence. Pre-sentence reports for each defendant were also ordered.
