Three people have been sentenced for their involvement following a ‘complex’ investigation
Three people have been sentenced after a criminal network that brought “significant quantities” of drugs into East Yorkshire was shut down. A “complex” investigation was needed to dismantle the organised drug supply across county lines which saw class A drugs sourced in West Yorkshire pushed to street level in Bridlington.
Tens of thousands of pounds in cash, and cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds on the streets was seized by officers during their enquiries. The three offenders connected to the lengthy investigation were sentenced at Hull Crown Court last week.
Mason Markham, 30, of Industrial Avenue, Birstall, was found to have “directed the operation throughout”. He replaced people and relaunched phone lines as others were arrested to keep the enterprise running.
Markham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A cocaine and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to 12 years behind bars and was handed a Serious Crime Prevention Order of five years which will take effect upon his release from prison.
Nathan Cunningham, 31, of Albion Street, Dewsbury, admitted conspiracy to supply class A cocaine. He was sentenced to three years and four months behind bars. Venetia Webb, 31, of Prickett Road, Bridlington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A cocaine. She received a suspended sentence of one year and ten months.
An investigation began in April 2024 as specialist detectives from Humberside Police conducted drugs warrants at addresses in Bridlington that were suspected to be linked to the network. On April 16 that year, officers seized £85,000 in cash and around £320,000 worth of cocaine from a 35‑year‑old man, a known associate of Markham.
Phone evidence recovered at the scene showed he was chasing debts and moving drugs using a line owned by Markham. A device belonging to Markham was also retrieved after being thrown from an upstairs window which contained messages about drugs money being held for him.
Markham fled to West Yorkshire, and his accomplice later admitted acting as custodian of the drugs and cash. He received a prison sentence of six years and six months in April 2024.
With that line having collapsed, detectives soon identified a replacement one linking Hull, Bridlington and Patrington. A 31‑year‑old man co-ordinated day‑to‑day supply using a drug dealing phone and recruited a 30‑year‑old woman, a 28‑year‑old man, and a 26‑year‑old woman to sell at street level.
Further drugs warrants were carried out in July 2024 leading to the seizure of an additional drugs line handset and other personal devices. Messages uncovered referenced a line labelled “MM”, advertisements seeking “runners to work for Mason”, and they also showed Markham had contacted the 31‑year‑old man more than 80 times.
All four later pleaded guilty to drug supply offences and were sentenced in August 2024. Markham was not arrested during these warrants as he remained wanted in West Yorkshire.
With another line disbanded, detectives identified a fresh dealing phone activated in October 2024. Enquiries showed Nathan Cunningham was running the drugs line from a bail hostel in Batley, West Yorkshire, where he was sending bulk texts advertising the sale of cocaine. Cunningham used Venetia Webb to deal at street level in Bridlington, while Markham stayed in overall control.
Warrants conducted on December 30, 2024, at addresses linked to the trio in West Yorkshire, resulted in further arrests and device seizures. Markham was found inside the property and was subsequently arrested. A mobile phone suspected to belong to him was recovered nearby too.
Evidence from this device set out his role in sourcing cocaine in bulk, supplying Cunningham for onward street dealing, and directing runners all while evading arrest. Messages on Webb’s device showed her taking instructions from Cunningham and reporting she had been “taxed” of drugs or cash on Christmas Eve. Cunningham’s phone showed him arranging re‑loads, weighing stock, and overseeing the line, with regular contact with Markham.
All three were later charged and appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court on October 9 this year. As part of Markham’s sentencing on December 12, the court also considered earlier offending linked to him while he was on bail for separate offences.
This was in relation to a routine traffic stop in 2020, when officers recovered a bag of cash believed to be the proceeds of class A drug sales, a quantity of cannabis, and a mobile phone. Analysis showed the phone was being used in the supply of drugs.
Offences were also considered from 2022, which were a result of detectives establishing a conspiracy to supply drugs, in which Markham directed a 33‑year‑old man, who acted as his runner. Bulk advertising messages were sent to hundreds of contacts offering quantities from sub‑gram deals to wholesale amounts. Markham’s accomplice, a 33-year-old man, later pleaded guilty to drugs offences and was sentenced in October this year.
Following the sentencings this month, Detective Inspector Matt Grantham, of Humberside Police, said: “This was a complex and sustained investigation into organised drug supply across county lines. The timeframe of the investigation reflects the scale of this case.
“Officers analysed numerous devices, thousands of messages and extensive financial and communications evidence to ensure the charges reflected the full extent of offending and that the case file was robust. These convictions are the result of months of meticulous work by officers across multiple specialist teams that are determined to hold offenders to account.
“Markham, Cunningham, and Webb played clear roles in a criminal network that sought to profit from bringing significant quantities of class A drugs into Bridlington, with no regard for the consequences or the harm they cause. Our teams work relentlessly to dismantle organised crime groups, protect those at risk of exploitation, and prosecute those responsible.
“Thanks to the persistence and dedication of everyone involved in this investigation, we’ve been able to shut down this network and remove a significant quantity of harmful drugs from the community. This work forms part of multi-agency Clear Hold Build initiative in Bridlington which aims to clear criminal influence and build long-term resilience with the community through partnership working.
“I’d like to thank the public for continuing to report suspicious activity. Please don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate action, these are complex investigations and much of the work happens out of sight to get to the root of organised drug supply. Every piece of information we receive helps us build a clearer picture and take meaningful steps towards charges and convictions.”