Gang jailed for more than 100 years over guns and drugs in Nottinghamshire storage containers
12 people are sentenced after firearms, drugs and cash were uncovered on an industrial estate in Mansfield
Twelve members of an organised crime gang have been jailed for a combined total of more than 100 years after using storage containers on an industrial estate to hide firearms, drugs and cash.
The group used containers at a site in Mansfield to store and sell heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis to street dealers, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
Drugs were supplied predominantly in the Mansfield area but also reached as far as Hertfordshire and parts of Wales.
When officers carried out warrants on the containers, they found five viable firearms and a large quantity of ammunition.
Three of the weapons were handguns, including a Broomhandle Mauser.
Gang members were given access to different containers depending on their position within the group, detectives said.
One container was used to store money, another for drugs and firearms, and others for packaging and dealing drugs.
Members made repeated trips to the site, delivering and collecting packages, boxes and cash.
Leah Hopkinson, one of the gang's key figures, was seen visiting the site up to four times a day over a three-month period.
It is believed Hopkinson was supplying up to 600 wraps of Class A and B drugs to street dealers each day.
Justin Gibson and Kieran Rimmer were seen moving items between containers, while ringleader Jamie Smith was seen moving large amounts of cash.
In November 2025, moments before police executed a warrant, Smith was seen moving firearms between two of the containers.
During the warrant on all five containers, officers seized a large quantity of cash and drugs, the five firearms, ammunition, knives including a machete, and drug dealing equipment including a press, scales, mixing agents and packaging consistent with wholesale amounts.
Searches were also carried out at the defendants' homes.
At the address shared by Smith and his partner, Shannon Lee Shaw, in Breckbank, Mansfield, officers found evidence including a phone linked to drug dealing.
A mobile phone wrapped in clingfilm and hidden behind a fence was also recovered, which exposed the drugs line through messages sent by Smith.
In total, officers seized cash, mobile phones, sim cards, firearms, a machete, designer clothing and motorbikes worth thousands of pounds.
£48,038 in cash was recovered from the containers and the homes searched, along with an estimated £746,000 of drugs on the day enforcement action was carried out.
The investigation, led by Nottinghamshire Police's Serious and Organised Crime Task Force, began in August 2025.
Detective Inspector James McDonagh said:
"Many hours of detective work allowed us to dismantle this sophisticated criminal operation.
"Certain members of this gang were making large amounts of money and living lavish lifestyles funded by the misery of the drug users they exploited.
"They used five storage containers, with different levels of access, depending on the person's role within the hierarchy of the gang.
"For example, one of the containers was used to store money, another was used for storing drugs and firearms, and the others to package the drugs and deal from.
"Jamie Smith was clearly prepared to enforce his business using the firearms found within one of the containers.
"Offences involving firearms are extremely rare in Nottinghamshire and we are proactive in our efforts to take them off the streets and keep the public safe from the devastating consequences of gun crime.
"Ultimately, whole communities will benefit from these criminals being put behind bars for a considerable period of time.
"I'd also like to thank all the officers and police staff who worked tirelessly on this lengthy, complex and challenging investigation.
"The efforts of the Serious and Organised Crime Task Force and other teams we worked alongside have helped secure this outcome."
Twelve members of the gang were sentenced on Thursday 24th September at Nottingham Crown Court.
Judge John Sampson told the group:
"Class A drugs blight lives of individuals, wreck families, cause further crime and destroy communities.
"You were all involved in peddling this misery."
Jamie Smith, 37, of Breckbank, Mansfield, was jailed for a total of 22 years and eight months after pleading guilty to three counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, possession of a shotgun without a certificate, possession of a firearm without a firearm certificate, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate.
Justin Gibson, 36, of The Rushes, Mansfield Woodhouse, was jailed for 17 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and being found guilty after trial of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Leah Hopkinson, 31, of The Rushes, Mansfield Woodhouse, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and being found guilty after trial of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Kieran Rimmer, 37, of Seventh Avenue, Clipstone, was jailed for 11 years and three months after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Matthew Bryan, 35, of Elm Tree Avenue, Mansfield, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Stefan Houston, 39, of Third Avenue, Clipstone, was jailed for six years after being found guilty after trial of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Brennan Hayes, 22, of Portland Crescent, Mansfield Woodhouse, was jailed for five years and four months after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Anthony Lumley, 50, of Manor Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, was jailed for eight years and one month after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Josh Harmieson, 33, of Elm Tree Avenue, Mansfield, was jailed for five years and three months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Jack Smith, 25, of Charles Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, was jailed for five years and 10 months after pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.
Lee Shipman, 40, of Byron Street, Shirebrook, Derbyshire, was jailed for five years and seven months after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Shannon Shaw, 31, of Breckbank, Mansfield, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, after admitting acquiring criminal property.