- Robert Hartshorne, a former non-league striker, owned six houses worth over £600,000
- Police who raided his house found designer clothes, jewellery and cash
- He was prime mover in criminal gang who were jailed for total of 54 years
Playing dirty: Robert Hartshorne, former top
scorer for non-league Glossop North End, controlled a gang who moved
cocaine and other drugs around the north-west
Robert Hartshorne, former top scorer for non-league Glossop North End, was also the leader of a seven-strong criminal gang who moved cocaine and other drugs around the north-west.
The 28-year-old, who plied his trade at several non-league teams, owned six houses worth over £600,000, while organising the gang in Hyde, Greater Manchester.
When police stormed Hartshorne’s home in Hyde, they found wardrobes brimming with expensive designer clothing, over £30,000 worth of designer jewellery and photographs of his many luxury holidays.
The footballer was then arrested, and has since been jailed for 11 years.
Officers tried to arrest Hartshorne earlier as he met with someone at a takeaway in Hyde, but he ran away by jumping over nearby gardens and fencing.
His car was searched, where £5,000 in cash was found along with a passport.
In a separate search, police stopped a car driven by another gang member on the A556 in Cheshire, and found £77,000 in cash stashed in a specially-modified boot compartment.
Hartshorne was sentenced along with eight other gang members for supplying cocaine.
Alan Page, 35, was the last member of the gang to be jailed after a long police investigation.
The gang were sentenced to more than 54 years in prison, after police seized over £900,000 worth of drugs and £110,000 in cash in a long investigation.
All members of the gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.
Haul: Police recovered cash, including this stash of £77,000, during a long-term investigation into Hartshorne and his gang
Ill-gotten gains: Police who raided the home of Robert Hartshorne found cash, designer clothes and jewellery
The fingerprints of Michael Gaskell were discovered on the bag, and the investigation uncovered the dealings of the gang led by Hartshorne.
Officers swooped on houses and cars during the investigation, uncovering huge amounts of money and cocaine - up to £345,000 worth at one time.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Rick Williams from Greater Manchester Police’s Force Drugs Unit said: 'This case clearly illustrates that GMP will go to great lengths in order to bring to justice criminals such as these, who seem to think they are beyond the reach of the law.
'Over many months, this group were evidenced running a highly organised drugs supply business, whereby high quality cocaine was diluted with cheaper adulterants in order to maximise profits and fund the lavish lifestyles of the ringleaders.
'It was the actions of Hartshorne and his criminal associates that caused misery to the lives of the law-abiding members of the local community, and it is for that reason that I take great satisfaction in the sentences handed down to them.'
Star: Hartshorne played for several non-league
teams and was Glossop North End's top scorer. Pictured, their Derbyshire
ground, Surrey Street
'These sentences just go to show that crime really does not pay and work will continue in Tameside through hard-hitting drugs operations to tackle those involved in this industry.
'We will also take back from them the money and assets they have made from their criminal dealings.
'If you have information on anyone who may be committing crime in your area, please call police in Tameside on 101.'
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