Parrot squawking street slang helps police lock up drugs gang for over 103 years

A parrot squawking street slang about a crack cocaine deal helped detectives capture a drug gang who now face 103 year jail sentences.

Adam Garnett, 35, was running the drugs operation from inside prison using smuggled phones and Wi-Fi routers and he was jailed following an investigation into the supply of class A drugs in Blackpool along with 14 people who worked for him. It was incriminating footage police found on his girlfriend Shannon Hilton's phone that helped seal their downfall with one clip showing her making video calls to him from outside — while blocks of cocaine were filmed on-screen with music playing lyrics about drugs.

Another video showed Hilton’s pet parrot, Mango, being taught to say “two for 25”, a reference to a street deal price for crack cocaine. A clip also showed the parrot playing with cash, believed to be from the gang’s profits — all in front of a child. It comes after woman is jailed for leaving eight starving dogs to eat each other in hellhole flat.

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And footage from other gang members showed raps about drug money, stashes of heroin and ketamine, and large sums of cash being flaunted as trophies of their crimes.

The gang operated across Blackpool between February 2023 and July 2024, trafficking Class A and B drugs including heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, and ketamine. In total, 15 people pleaded guilty to drug offences at Preston Crown Court and received sentences totalling more than a century in prison with some suspended.

Garnett was charged with two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months, which he will have to serve consecutive to his existing 15 year prison term. Hilton was charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. She was sentenced to 12 years.

Garnett’s criminal reach extended throughout the group, with videos and messages linking nearly every member of the network to him directly — despite him being incarcerated. Lancashire Police say the videos not only exposed the scale of the operation but painted a clear picture of a group glorifying their criminal lifestyle.

Now, the clips they recorded to show off have helped put them behind bars. in a post on Facebook, Blackpool Police said: "What’s the most talented thing your pet can do? Sit? Give paw? How about speak?

"One drug dealer's parrot learned to say ‘two for 25’ - a phrase picked up as part of common language used by the organised crime gang run by her boyfriend. Not a phrase you want your parrot squawking when the police come knocking!

"Last week, they, and thirteen others were jailed for more than 103 years. As Mango the parrot played with illegally gained money, the gang members rapped about their drug dealing, boasting of their criminal exploits.

"The leader of the gang, Adam Garnett was already serving a 15-year prison sentence when a number of phones and wifi routers were found in his cell. Following enquiries after this find, Garnett’s second-in-command associates were identified as Dalbir Sandhu, Shannon Hilton and Jason Gerrand.

"Searches of their home addresses found large quantities of drugs, cash, and phones all linking the gang to one another. The gang operated between February 2023 and July 2024 in the Blackpool area."

Other defendants in court along with Garnett and Hilton included:

• Dalbir Sandhu, 41, charged with two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to 10 years .
• Jason Gerrand, 50, charged with two counts of Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs . He was sentenced to eight years and three months.
• Gareth Burgess, 45, charged with two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to seven years and seven months.
• Dean Baker, 33, charged with two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to seven years and four months.
• Thomas Bird, 31, charged with two counts of conspiring to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to eight years and nine months for the conspiracy with an additional 6 months for activating a suspended sentence totalling nine years and three months.
• Chloe Stott, 24, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. She failed to appear at court for sentencing but was sentenced to seven years and seven months in her absence. A warrant is now out for her arrest.
• Jack Faryniarz, 22, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and burglary. He was sentenced to eight years and nine months.
• William Ogden, 21, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply. He was sentenced to eight years.
• Ryan Black, 27, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He failed to appear for sentencing, but was sentenced to five years in his absence, and a warrant is now out for his arrest.
• Rachel Johnson, 34, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. She pleaded Guilty to assisting an OCG and was sentenced to 15 months suspended for 12 months and will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
• Jamie Robinson, 22, charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He pleaded Guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years. He will also have to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
• Jadene Grady, 26, charged with two counts of conspiring to supply a class A drug. She pleaded Guilty to assisting an OCG at Preston Crown Court, and was sentenced to 15 months, suspended for 12 months and will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

DS Anthony Alves of Lancashire Police's West Targeted Crime Team said: “These people ran a sophisticated operation to supply class A drugs across Blackpool. Garnett continued to run his operation whilst in prison, communicating with the members of his organised crime gang through illegal methods.

“I welcome the sentences handed down today following the lengthy and complex investigation. I want to thank my team, the Crown Prosecution Service and our prosecution barristers Sarah Magill and Holly Nelson for their work in bringing these people to justice.

“Enquiries are ongoing to locate Chloe Stott and Ryan Black, who both failed to appear at court today. If you see them, or know where they may be, I would encourage you to let us know. We will continue to dismantle these gangs, whether they are operating behind bars or otherwise.”

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner said: "Successful outcomes like this demonstrate officers' tireless work to protect the public and show that Lancashire is taking a relentless approach to tackling organised crime.I remain fully committed to supporting the Chief Constable, ensuring our officers and staff have the resources they need to dismantle criminal gangs, drive offenders out of our communities, and deliver justice."

If you believe that someone may be involved in drugs activity in your area, please do the responsible thing and report it. You can call 101, or report anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. If someone is in immediate danger, or a crime is ongoing, please always call 999.