Couple and their grandson 'blight' on community

A couple in their 60s who have "blighted a community" have been jailed and their grandson sentenced for a number of crimes.

Philip and Pamela Spencer, of South Elmsall, near Wakefield, admitted possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply after a raid on their home earlier this year.

Their grandson Blake Cowell has been convicted of driving and drugs offences and owning a knuckle-duster.

Leeds Crown Court heard officers had acted on community intelligence to arrest and charge the family after the suspected drug-related death of a man in the town.

Amphetamine, crack cocaine and several weapons - including a knuckle-duster and a crossbow - were seized in the raid on Harrow Street on 20 January.

All three suspects were arrested during the raid and were sentenced on 13 July.

Philip Spencer, 64, of no fixed abode, admitted possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply and was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.

Pamela Spencer, 66, also of no fixed abode, admitted possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Blake Cowell, 21, of Beech Street in South Elmsall, was given a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance, and causing damage to a police vehicle in relation to a previous incident.

He was also given two two-month sentences, to be served consecutively, for possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Det Insp Sarah Degnan of West Yorkshire Police said: "The Spencers have been a blight on the local community for some time, so I am pleased that justice has been served and they have been deprived of their liberty for a significant period of time.

"By acting on intelligence provided by the community, officers and detectives have been able to tackle the concerns of people in South Elmsall and take action to have a positive impact on the local community."

Det Con Saqib Iqbal added: "This has been a complex investigation, not least because the defendants sought to evade justice by portraying themselves as vulnerable.

"However, justice has been served and this will hopefully reassure the community that we will take appropriate action on receipt of community intelligence."

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