Five men have been jailed for their role in a “well-oiled” drugs gang as well as violent attacks in Ipswich.
The crimes were described as a blight on the town, including a “horrific” attack in broad daylight outside a pub in the town centre.
Three more were handed sentences for their involvement in crimes that concerned the J Block gang, all attending Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday, April 18.
Before the court were: Gerson Assuncao, 22, of Burrell Road, Ipswich; Matas Vaitekunas, 20, of Victoria Street, Ipswich; Bobby Walters, 26, of Victoria Street, Ipswich; Michael Crumlish, 27, of Southgreen Gardens, Clacton-on-Sea; Ethan Smith, 22, of Cardiff Avenue, Ipswich.
There were also three 17-year-olds: Mekhi Ebanks, Daniel Kovalkov and Laurynas Talacka.
Sentencing eight men in total for 26 offences, Judge Martyn Levett told the court that this kind of behaviour makes the town “become eerily silent and deserted”.
One member of the J Block gang stabbed a member of a rival gang in the back outside the Cock and Pye pub in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich Crown Court heard last week.
On June 2 last year, Ebanks, who was 16 at the time, carried a bladed article in the evening and stabbed the man, puncturing his lung.
It was used in “horrific” circumstances, said Judge Martyn Levett, and the events, captured on CCTV, make for “shocking” viewing.
He described this as a “targeted attack” that happened in broad daylight in the summer, though in the evening.
A few weeks later, on August 15 last year, there was another violent incident at Maple Park near Victoria Street in Ipswich.
Crumlish, who wasn’t a J Block member, had gone into the area armed with a machete and was approached by a J Block member armed with a cosh.
The Judge described the drugs ring as a “very well-oiled machine” that acted efficiently within the community to supply Class A and Class B drugs.
He told the court that getting involved can “destroy families and communities” and lead to “other matters of public concern in the streets of Ipswich”, leading to those embroiled in dealing becoming involved in other forms of violence.
A police search of Assuncao’s flat found a mobile phone, on which there were references to “yeyo”, a street name for cocaine.
They also found a machete, a knife, sealed bags with cannabis inside, and bags of cocaine.
Assuncao admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, affray, possessing a knife, possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.
Smith admitted being involved in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs while Vaitekunas admitted being involved in the supply of class A and B drugs, affray and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
Ebanks admitted wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm in relation to the Cock and Pye stabbing.
Talacka and Walters admitted affray while Crumlish admitted having an offensive weapon, namely a machete in a public place and affray.
Kovalkov admitted being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs and affray.
Assuncao was sentenced to a total of 5 years and 10 months in custody, Ebanks to 3 years, Kovalkov to 42 months, Smith to 44 months, and Vaitekunas to 3 years.
Crumlish was handed a sentence of 16 months suspended for two years, and Walters a sentence of 12 months suspended for two years.
Talacka was only charged with affray, sentenced to a nine-month rehabilitation order with 30 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Martyn Levett allowed Ebanks, Kovalkov, and Talacka to be named in the press in the name of open justice.
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