FIVE men are to be sentenced tomorrow for their roles in a major cocaine ring that sold the Class A drug on the streets of Bradford and district.

Gareth Hughes, 41, of Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, Bradford, was said to have played a leading role in the conspiracy.

His son, Billy Hughes-Whiteley, 19, also of Broadstone Way; Andrew Fry, 36, of Andover Green, Holme Wood; Martyn Hobson, 32, of Ayton Close, Barkerend, Bradford; and Krishan Patel, 25, of Grovelands, Bolton, Bradford, will also appear at Bradford Crown Court in the morning.

All will be sentenced for conspiring to supply cocaine except for Hobson who will be sentenced for supplying the Class A drug.

Prosecutor Peter Hampton said that 9.88 kilos of drugs were handled during the operation. Cocaine was supplied to Bradford and surrounding areas on a ‘ring and bring’ basis with payment in cash or by bank transfer.

Money was recovered from Hughes’ home and he also had £7,000 worth of designer clothing.

After he was arrested and bailed, he was ‘undeterred’ and set up a second conspiracy to supply cocaine in Bradford, the court was told. This time he had more than £6,000 in cash in his possession when he was arrested.

Mr Hampton said he played a leading role with the expectation of considerable financial gain.

Hughes-Whiteley was deputised by his father and also must have had the expectation of financial gain.

Fry and Hobson were street dealers working shifts for the operation. Patel joined the drugs ring later on, also as a street dealer. In mitigation for Hughes, Alasdair Campbell conceded that he played a leading role in the conspiracies but said that he was well below the head of the drugs chain.

He was very sorry for what had gone on. His biggest regret was getting his son involved when he was aged 18, Mr Campbell said.

Hughes was a Listener in the prison system and had a good side to him.

He got involved in drug supplying when his business failed, the court was told.

Andrew Stranex, for Hughes-Whiteley, said he was very young and deeply regretted getting involved. He had a promising career as a boxer that he hoped to resume in due course.

He had been remanded for months and that had had a significant impact.

He felt genuine and heartfelt remorse and knew he was going to receive a custodial sentence.

For Hobson, it was suggested that he receive a community order or a suspended sentence of imprisonment.

He had used cocaine to self-medicate for his mental health problems and he had spent all of his money on the drug. He built up a debt and was ‘between a rock and a hard place.’ Hobson had severe autism and lacked cognitive skills. His reasoning was impaired and he was a vulnerable person open to suggestion.

For Fry, Kitty Colley said he was a runner for the operation. He was addicted to drugs and had no control over the business.

Judge Colin Burn made Hughes the subject of a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order dating from his release from prison. It will monitor his future use of phones, vehicles and cash.

Mitigation for Patel will be heard tomorrow ahead of sentence.

The case continues.