Judge backs sentence on drug-runner

A Rochdale man involved in a massive £20 million cocaine-dealing plot had his sentence backed by top judges yesterday.

Mark Sindrey (38) was sentenced to 15 years and four months at Bolton Crown Court in April last year after admitting a series of charges — including possessing cocaine and amphetamine with intent to supply, and possessing an automatic pistol and ammunition.

Mr Justice Henriques, sitting with Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Tugendhat in London’s Appeal Court, said Sindrey played a key role as custodian of drugs stored at a house in Rochdale.

He was arrested after being stopped by police in a car near Stafford in July, 2008, and detectives subsequently searched a Rochdale house to which he was linked, discovering a nine-millimetre pistol, 47 rounds of live ammunition, plus cocaine with a street value of £82,000.

Also on the premises was a quantity of cutting agents which could have been used to produce up to £20 million of drugs if more pure cocaine was added to the mix, said Mr Justice Henriques.

On June 27, 2008. police raided an Oldham property also used by the dealers, discovering amphetamine with a street value of £23,140.

Sindrey, of Curzon Road, Kirkholt, admitted being custodian of the Rochdale property, said the judge, and accepted having run drugs to Plymouth on 18 occasions, being paid £500 per trip.

He accepted knowing that drugs were stored at the Rochdale house, but said he never knew the full extent of the operation. He became involved in drug-dealing due to personal domestic difficulties, the court heard.

Sindrey’s lawyers claimed his sentence was excessive since he was not a key player in the drugs conspiracy. But Mr Justice Henriques pointed out that he was involved in the large-scale commercial supply of Class A drugs, before concluding: “We cannot fault the sentence”.