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A mother of three who ran a family drug trafficking racket from her suburban semi in one the country’s richest villages has been jailed. Julie Finney, 48, and her two sons Marcus and Dylan set up their HQ at her three-bedroom home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire – where many Premier League footballers and TV stars live – after the youngsters were brought up against a background of cocaine and cannabis abuse.

Over a 16-month period shop worker Finney, who had been smoking dope since she was 15, helped mastermind a “well-run and busy” trade in Class A and Class C drugs from her £500,000 property.

As part of the operation, her sons would send out so-called “flare” texts to addicts with their latest offers whilst she herself offered discounted rates and gave her bank details for online payments.

The racket was eventually busted after a major police investigation into drug supply in the area where more champagne per head is sold than anywhere else in the UK.

It is not known how much the Finneys made from their racket.

Prosecutor Mr Sion ap Mihangel said the dealing took place from 15 January 2020 till their arrest on 30 May 2021 and added: “Julie and her sons operated a well-run and busy street dealing enterprise together.

“On 18 December 2020, police executed a search warrant at the defendants’ home address when Dylan was present. Police seized 88g of cannabis valued at between £419 and £460 together with £1,182 in cash. Police also found scales and bags and cutting agents were also received.”

Mr ap Mihangel said three months later officers saw Marcus “behaving in a manner suggesting that he was dealing drugs”.

He added: “He was going in and out of vehicles acting suspiciously generally at various locations. He was found with £205 in cash and three spliffs.

“On his mobile, messages seen by the officer were consistent with street dealing. When handcuffed he ran away but was later stopped.”

Marcus was found with cash and three bags of cocaine valued at £100 to £105. Mr ap Mihangel said that the study of mobile messages suggested that they had a “busy” trade dealing in the Rusholme area of South Manchester and added: “In all interviews, defendants replied no comment to questions put to them.”

At Chester Crown Court, Finney wept as she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. Marcus, 28, was jailed for four years.

Dylan, 19, was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institution, suspended for 18 months and subjected to a 8pm-6am curfew for 12 months.

The brothers admitted the same offences as their mum.

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