Canterbury Crown Court
On Thursday 30 January 2025 five members of a cocaine network based in Thanet were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court to a total of more than 18-years following a Kent Police investigation.
John Horn was the leader of the group and enlisted the services of fellow Ramsgate resident Oliver Eyles to manage the day-to-day running of their criminal enterprise, including the onward distribution of cocaine to other street dealers.
But their offending did not go unnoticed and resulted in officers carrying out a series of arrests on Thursday 21 March 2024, seizing large quantities of cash and drugs in the process.
Each of the offenders pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine prior to their sentencing.
- Horn, 38, from Ramsgate, was sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment.
- Eyles, 36, also from Ramsgate, was jailed for five years and six months.
- Joseph Shuttleworth, 35, and from Ramsgate, received a custodial sentence of two years and four months.
- Jason Tse, 41, from Westgate, was sentenced to three years and 10 months’ imprisonment.
- Christopher Palmer, 34, from Ramsgate, received a two year suspended prison sentence.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Nicola Emery said:
‘Organised crime groups are often run like businesses with each member having clearly defined roles and responsibilities. John Horn sat at the very top of this particular criminal network and whilst he rarely handled any drugs himself, it was very clear he played a leading role in the supply of cocaine to users across east Kent.
‘He thought that by having other criminals do his dirty work for him, it would reduce the risk of him being arrested and sent to prison. Unfortunately for Horn and the other members of his group, we knew exactly who they were and what they were up to.
‘This is a significant result in Kent Police’s ongoing fight against the supply of class A drugs, with those responsible receiving sentences that will see them behind bars for a long time.’