COCAINE was trafficked from Worcester to Devon in the middle of the night as part of a drugs conspiracy worth tens of thousands, a court heard.

After a series of delays, the trial of five defendants implicated in cocaine and cannabis conspiracies got underway at Worcester Crown Court on Monday.

The defendants are: Karl Browning, 42, of Hurcott Road, Kidderminster; Sinead Lavelle, 33, of Saxon Way, Droitwich; Darren Pegler, 40, of Coronation Road, Kidderminster; Timothy Valentine, 42, of Beacon Hill, Bridgnorth and Vander Browning, 42, of Usmere Road, Kidderminster.

Karl Browning, Lavelle and Vander Browning deny conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine) between January 1, 2018 and June 1 last year. Valentine denies conspiracy to produce cannabis and conspiracy to supply cannabis between January 1, 2018 and June 1 last year. Karl Browning and Darren Pegler deny conspiracy to produce cannabis between August 1, 2018 and November 1, 2020.

Tim Harrington, prosecuting, opened the case to the jury, telling them that another man, Gareth Pegler, and other conspirators had already pleaded guilty to the cocaine conspiracy.

The Crown's case is that Gareth Pegler 'had started to supply cocaine on a commercial scale', sending significant amounts of the class A drug to Ilfracombe in Devon after buying it from a supplier's home in Rubery.

He said Gareth Pegler's family, including his sister Vander Browning, brother-in-law Karl Browning and Lavelle, his partner and the mother of his children, were all involved in the plot, including transporting drugs and money.

"Gareth Pegler didn't realise he was being watched by police and they had him under surveillance in effect" he said,

During the course of the alleged conspiracy, Gareth Pegler's phone was said to have been tracked moving to Devon 26 times, 'most of the time at night' and most of the visits 'very brief'.

"They weren't trips to a popular holiday destination. They were shortlived trips to deliver cocaine and collect money" said Mr Harrington.

He said Lavelle went with Gareth Pegler on at least two occasions and they were 'not for some legitimate excuse, not for going to the seaside or going on holiday'.

"These were drug runners" he said. The prosecution case is that Lavelle dropped off money for drugs and was implicated in the plot, including driving her partner Gareth Pegler to Devon after he was banned from driving.

"She knows what's going on and she can help" said Mr Harrington. He said her visits to Devon 'were obviously for her to assist Mr Pegler with his cocaine empire'.

Mr Harrington said Pegler on one occasion went to an alleged co-conspirator's house in Rubery to purchase and pick up 3kg of cocaine and was observed by police leaving the house with 'a package about the size of a shoebox'.

Text messages were also read out which showed Gareth Pegler discussing with his alleged supplier what the prosecution say was the price of cocaine which had risen from £33,500 per kilo to £35,000 per kilo.

He also said Karl Browning was asked to drop off money for drugs on behalf of Gareth Pegler.

"He must have known this was money for drugs. Why on earth would Gareth Pegler involve someone who did not know?" he said.

The case is that Karl Browning was later asked to take drugs down south on behalf of his brother-in-law. One message from Karl Browning to Gareth Pegler read 'I don't want to carry longer than I have to' which the Crown say refers to the risks of carrying drugs.

The home of Michael Carey, described as Gareth Pegler's 'man in Devon', was raided by police on November 7, 2020 when £19,000 in cash was seized. On November 28, 2020 Morris's house was raided and officers found £8,500 of cash.

Karl Browning gave a no comment interview to police. "He has since claimed he was taking car parts to Devon he thought" said Mr Harrington.

He added: "Why would you deliver car parts in the middle of the night to Devon to a man who had been dealing in drugs? Why would you think car parts would be worth nearly £19,000?"

The trial continues.