THE ringleader of a cocaine gang operating in a North Yorkshire market town has been jailed for 11 years.

Nathaniel Thomas Hollywood, 27, of Thirsk was the last member of the organised crime group to be sentenced for conspiring to supply drugs in Thirsk between July 2011 and February 2012.

Two of his lieutenants were jailed for ten years each and eight other gang members received lesser sentences at Teesside Crown Court earlier this month.

It is the second major hard drugs gang to be rounded up and sentenced in recent months. Last month members of a major gang operating in York and running cocaine and other drugs into the city via Harrogate were jailed for more than 50 years between them.

Now North Yorkshire Police is calling on the public to help them crack more criminal gangs by alerting them to people living well above their apparent means.

Det Chief Inspector Steve Smith, of North Yorkshire Police’s tactical response against organised crime, said: “We have seen some fantastic results recently at crown courts with significant sentences being passed to those engaged in organised crime. Those results have come from painstaking and lengthy investigations taking up to two years to bring to conclusion.

“The officers involved should feel justifiably proud of their achievements.

“The challenge for us going forward, is to continue with the momentum, to ensure that we continue to get the intelligence from the public that often first identifies these criminals.”

“There is often a correlation between someone living a lifestyle beyond any immediately obvious means and their involvement in organised crime.

“Members of the public who have such concerns or information can contact their local policing team, or ring Crimestoppers. We look forward to continue to investigate those who seek to set themselves above the law.

“Those who engage in such crime will hopefully be worried as to who’s next.”