Essex drug gang 'Original Gangsters' sentenced to 20 years total

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 14:58 · Archive

Three men calling themselves 'The Original Gangsters' have been sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for running a Class A drugs network across Essex.

Three men who called themselves 'The Original Gangsters' have been sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison after armed police uncovered a Class A drugs network operating across Essex.

Rocco Coakley, 23, was stopped by officers in Loughton in April and immediately admitted carrying a loaded handgun in his jacket pocket. A search of his vehicle revealed 167 wraps of cocaine, nearly 200g of ketamine, £200 in cash, a folding lock knife, a covert hide box, a GPS tracker and weighing scales. Officers also seized a sword, a serrated knife and a predator knife from his address in Clay's Lane, Loughton.

Further investigation showed Coakley was running a drugs network known as the 'Rick' line, dealing in kilogram quantities of Class A substances and distributing them to mid-level dealers. Among those supplied were Luke Austin-Davis and Frankie Locke, who together labelled themselves 'the OGS'.

Austin-Davis, 23, of Folkes Lane, Upminster, was arrested on 5 August and later admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property and possession of ketamine. He was jailed for four years at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant David Crane from the serious and organised crime unit said: 'Coakley and his associates posed significant harm to the Essex community. He clearly believed he could freely move around the county with a loaded gun and supply Class A drugs whilst doing so. He couldn't – and he found that out when he was stopped in April.'

How it is being reported

• Essex drug gang dubbed 'The Original Gangsters' given total of 20 years in prisonEssex trio jailed for 20 years after armed police uncovered a Class A drugs network, cocaine and weapons linked to the ‘Original Gangsters’ in Loughton.Colchester Gazette · 13 Nov, 14:35
• Essex drug gang dubbed 'The Original Gangsters' given total of 20 years in prisonEssex trio jailed for 20 years after armed police uncovered a Class A drugs network, cocaine and weapons linked to the ‘Original Gangsters’ in Loughton.Echo (Basildon) · 13 Nov, 14:35
• Essex drug gang dubbed 'The Original Gangsters' given total of 20 years in prisonEssex trio jailed for 20 years after armed police uncovered a Class A drugs network, cocaine and weapons linked to the ‘Original Gangsters’ in Loughton.Brentwood Guardian · 13 Nov, 14:09

In this story: Rocco Coakley · Luke Austin-Davis · Frankie Locke · Essex Police · Loughton · Chelmsford Crown Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log