DETECTIVES and staff from North Yorkshire Police who helped put three violent drug dealers behind bars have received a judge’s commendation.

Mohamed Abdi, Adirahman Shire and Julian Soares were jailed at Leeds Crown Court last year for supplying cocaine and causing grievous bodily harm.

The case involved an incident in Harrogate in October 2017 in which a man was stabbed 12 times.

Abdi, 26, of Tower Street, Leicester, Shire, 22, of Oak Street, Leicester and Soares, 23, of Brixton, London, were found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to supply cocaine following a two-week trial at Leeds Crown Court that concluded on October 16, 2018.

Abdi pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to supply cocaine charge midway through the trial. Soares was also found guilty of administering a noxious substance and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Soares received two concurrent sentences of eight years for conspiracies to supply cocaine and heroin, 12 years for wounding and one year for administering a noxious substance. Shire was jailed for 15 years and Abdi for 14 years and nine months.

After passing sentence, His Honour Mr Justice Martin Spencer QC, commended the investigation team and Detective Sergeant Alan Browne, Detective Constables Victoria Lawson and Sam Harding, and Police Staff Investigator Frank Penders, who all work within Harrogate CID.

They were presented with their commendations by Chief Constable Lisa Winward at Harrogate police station on Tuesday, January 15.

Three other members of staff also received a commendation for their work.

Chief Constable Winward said she was “extremely proud of the team and the fact that their work has been acknowledged by the court”.

She said: “I know the investigation was long and complex and the crimes committed by the trio brought fear and concern to the local community.

“Their tenacity has taken three dangerous people off the streets for a long time and I hope local people are reassured that those responsible for the violence on that night are now behind bars.”