A PROFESSIONAL boxer from Ipswich was among eight men sentenced to a total of nearly 49 years in prison for a major drug supply conspiracy involving Norfolk and Suffolk.

Henry Bacon, of Woodlands Way, Ipswich, was a courier in an organised crime ring led by kingpin Johnathan McKenna, who is originally from Liverpool.

McKenna, 26, of Norwich Road, Norwich, was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine.

His lieutenants Michael Kynaston, 30, of Edgerton Road, Lowestoft, and Steven Jackson, 45, of Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft, received jail terms of eight and ten years respectively.

Bacon, who was among the couriers who brought large amounts of cocaine down to Suffolk and Norfolk from Liverpool by road and rail, received two years imprisonment.

Other couriers Andrew Roberts, 30, of Keats Avenue, Wigan, and Wesley Gale, 27, of Higher Ince, Wigan, were given four years and four months in prison.

Laurence Neve, 50, of Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft, received four years and two months, while Stephen Palmer, 45, of Denmark Road, Lowestoft, received five years imprisonment.

All previously admitted the same conspiracy to supply Class A drug charge over a nine-month period which ended in June last year.

McKenna’s girlfriend Caroline Murphy, 22, of Liverpool, received a 12-month suspended sentence and 240 hours community service for money laundering.

Jackson’s partner Yvonne Horsley, a 44-year-old of Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft received an eight month suspended sentence and 80 hours of community service for money laundering and supply of Class B drugs.

Marie Darwin, 50, of Melverley Road, Liverpool received a 30-week suspended sentence for permitting her house to be used for the supply of cocaine.

After their sentencings Detective Inspector Bernie Morgan, who led the police operation, said: “This result follows a long and detailed investigation into the passage of drugs into the county and their subsequent distribution once here.

“I would like to thank Merseyside and Norfolk Constabularies for their support and to pay particular credit to my officers who put a great deal of work into gaining this result.

“Suffolk Constabulary is committed to tackling organised crime and will continue to actively pursue anyone who thinks that they can bring drugs into the county.”