Northumberland couple who drew their grandsons into a life of dealing convicted of drugs crimes

Northumbria Police say officers seized a concoction of cocaine, MDMA, opioid painkiller oxycodone and heroin during the searches, which centred on Dianne Wright and her husband Philip Stephenson.

It says the couple were the linchpins of a drugs empire which supplied a variety of Class A drugs across the North East region.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the family business expanded by recruiting grandsons Aaron, Wesley and Mckenzie Stephenson and his girlfriend, Centaine Armstrong.

It was also alleged the grandsons’ associates Amy Sillet, Brad Fogerty and Lewis Potter were lured into helping.

As well as helping distribute and supply the products, the family also created dangerous concoctions to help maximise profits, often mixing their cocaine with worming powder, laxatives, laundry detergent and carcinogenic substances.

But, the lucrative enterprise was finally brought to its knees on February 14, 2018, with a number of raids at various Northumberland properties associated with the family.

When officers struck at Wright’s property on Woodhorn Road, Newbiggin, they seized £22,000 in cash, a quantity of bulking agents, an ingredients list as well as a crossbow, air weapon and bullets.

A search carried out at Aaron Stephenson’s property on Chestnut Way, Widdrington, discovered a further haul of drugs and £17,000 in cash.

All nine suspects were arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and on Monday, March 16 a jury returned their verdict after a six-week trial.

Diane Wright, 60, and Philip Stephenson, 66, both of Woodhorn Road, Newbiggin, were found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possessing criminal property.