‘Luxury life’ ends for Bristol drug boss jailed with associates

The “luxury” life of a drug gang boss has come to an end after police dismantled an organised crime group in Bristol.

Joe Hatherall, 32, formerly of Emerson’s Green, South Gloucestershire, was arrested while on licence from prison for a previous sentence, having returned to arranging the movement of heroin and cocaine throughout south-west England.

On Friday, he was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to 12 years and six months in prison.

Three of Hatherall’s associates, Stefan Dann, Ben Bicknell and Dean Chick, were also sentenced for their part in the gang.

Avon and Somerset Police said around 10kg (22lbs) of cocaine and 4kg (8.8lbs) of heroin, with a street value of more than £1m was seized by its officers during the investigation.

Approximately £80,000 in cash was taken from those working for the group, and more than £30,000 in cryptocurrency was confiscated from Hatherall.

Hatherall was released in January 2022, having served half of a nine-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Within days of his release, he was in contact with his network of associates, the force said.

He was arrested in November 2022 and recalled to prison.

Analysis of Hatherall’s encrypted phone showed he played a leading role in the organised crime group (OCG) and funded his lifestyle from the proceeds of crime.

DCI Adam Smith of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “Hatherall has shown a complete disregard for the harm caused by drugs and is driven by greed and a desire to live a life of luxury, which included buying high-value vehicles, designer clothing, cosmetic dentistry, expensive watches, and a jet ski.”

In February 2022, Chick, 37, from Lisburn Road, in Knowle, Bristol, was stopped by police and found with £31,230 in cash following an exchange with one of Hatherall’s associates.

He was sentenced to three years and four months in jail for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Hatherall’s main drug distributor in Bristol, Bicknell, 37, of Whitchurch Lane, was arrested in June 2022 and found with bags of cocaine. He was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Dunn, 33, from Greenfield Crescent, Nailsea, North Somerset, a drugs courier for the group, was forensically linked to drugs found during the investigation. He was jailed for five years and seven months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

DCI Smith said: “Through a range of tactics, my team were able to evidence Hatherall’s criminal activity and that of his associates. As a result, his organised OCG has been dismantled and cocaine and heroin prevented from reaching communities within our region…

“The conviction of all the members of the OCG shows we will be relentless in our pursuit of anyone involved in drug supply, despite the attempts they make to avoid detection.”