County lines convict swears at judge during sentencing and this is what happened next

Robert Fleetwood subjected courtroom staff to a tirade of abuse during sentencing for his part for supplying Class A drugs

Many will agree that if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. And that is especially true if they were being sentenced by a judge.

But When Robert Fleetwood was told of his punishment for his role in flooding the streets of Worcestershire with cocaine, he unleashed a tirade of abuse at officers, staff and His Honour Judge Burbidge at Worcester Crown Court on Monday (October 7). The 35-year-old was handed an extra three months for contempt of court on top of his original four-year sentence.

Fleetwood, from Worcester, was described as a foot soldier in a 10-strong county lines gang called the H Line, who targeted Worcester and Malvern until they were smashed by West Mercia Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Read More: H Line County lines gang who took over Kam Line patch jailed for 60 years

Ameeth Mudhar was his boss, and he was assisted by his three trusted right-hand men, Ricardo White, Sark Kennedy, and Genti Aliaj. Beneath them were the foot soldiers, street dealers and ‘baggers’ Neringa Rupeikate, Brandon Scott, Mark Tyrell, Jack Beddoes, Katy Holland, and Fleetwood.

The group flooded Worcestershire with 15kg of cocaine, causing addiction and debt and instilling fear in the community, police said. Meanwhile, the criminals amassed possessions, status, and cash, rented expensive properties and vehicles, and spent months holidaying abroad.

But the gang were rumbled by West Mercia Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit. On Monday, Worcester Crown Court found ten people guilty of conspiring to supply a class A drug – cocaine. They were sentenced as follows: -

• Mudhar, 41, from Malvern - 14 years and six months
• Aliaj, 34, from Quinton, Birmingham – eight years
• White, 33, from Elmdon, Solihull – seven years
• Kennedy, 28, from Malvern – three years (plus an additional 33 months already served for other offences)
• Rupeikate, 31, from West Bromwich – six years
• Scott, 26, from Worcester – six years (plus three years consecutive for unrelated offences)
• Tyrell, 27, from Malvern – eight years
• Beddoes, 30, from Worcester - three years four months
• Holland, 40, from Malvern – four years
• Fleetwood, 35, from Worcester – four years (plus an extra three months for contempt of court after a tirade of abuse directed at officers, staff, the court and the Judge on sentencing.)

Det Chief Insp James Bamber, of South Worcestershire Local Policing Area, said: “Detectives from the SOCU worked tirelessly to rid south Worcestershire of the criminality inflicted by this group.

“I echo the sentiment of Judge Burbidge who commended the police for a detailed and diligent investigation. Tackling serious and organised crime is a priority and we will continue to focus our efforts on disrupting the criminal behaviour of those who are causing harm in our communities.”