Judge praises undercover officer

An undercover policeman has been commended by a judge after living with criminals for more than a year and helping secure six drugs convictions.

The officer, known ficticiously as Lee, was placed under cover to probe the still unsolved murder of Mold postman Paul Savage, who was killed in 2003.

It led to him "befriending" criminals and compiling evidence against them.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC told Mold Crown Court on Thursday the officer had acted "fearlessly" and should be commended.

The court wishes to recognise the courage that officer displayed by commending his actions to the chief constable Judge Merfyn Hughes QC

He said he would be writing to the force's chief constable expressing his gratitude.

Judge Hughes added: "For a considerable period time, the officer concerned carried out his undercover activities and placed himself in situations of considerable danger.

"That was not only danger from those who had been brought to justice but also the perpetrators of the original murder which he was investigating.

"The court wishes to recognise the courage that officer displayed by commending his actions to the chief constable."

The court heard how the officer befriended a number of people and was able to record them as they boasted about various offences.

They then helped supply him with drugs including heroin and cocaine.

Defendant Richard James Davies, 23, from Crewe in Cheshire, was jailed for seven years and three months after admitting assault, handling stolen property, and supplying cocaine and heroin to the officer.

Lisa Maria Nicholas, 27, from Leeswood near Mold, admitted supplying cocaine and was jailed for two and a half years.

Her partner Dean William Wyatt, 27, also from Leeswood, admitted supplying cocaine and was jailed for four years.

Vernon Gordon Orger, 49, formerly of Hoole, Chester, admitted supplying cocaine and was jailed for four years and eight months.

'Extremely detailed'

His son Karl , 23, from Hawarden, admitted acting as as an intermediary and burglaries at two shops in Mold and was jailed for three and a half years.

Aircraft fitter Robert Anderson, 42, from Hawarden, admitted supplying cocaine and he was jailed for three years.

Prosecutor Mr John Philpotts told how Operation Lion involved the deployment of the undercover police officer in Mold between October 2004 and November 2005.

During the 13 months he gained the trust of the defendants.

He first established an association with Karl Orger - who at one stage had to be extradited from Holland - who in turn introduced him to his father, to Davies, and to the others.

In mitigation, defence barristers said that while the work of the undercover officer had to be admired, the drugs offences would not have occurred but for his requests for drugs.

After the case, Det Insp Jeremy Vaughan of Mold CID said the sentences were the culmination of a lengthy and extremely detailed police investigation.

"This is a fine example of a successful police operation in co-operation with neighbouring forces, our colleagues in the Dutch police and the Crown Prosecution Service."