Merseyside drug dealers involved in the transportation of heroin and crack called themselves ‘Mancs’ in an apparent attempt to point police in the wrong direction.
Alan Hughes, 21, and John Kirk, 33 referred to their gang as ‘Manc Joy’ in phone conversations, despite the fact they were operating out of Liverpool, reports Devon Live.
The group’s name was seemingly part of a mission to encourage law enforcement to look away from their area – as the duo smuggled £100,000 worth of drugs down to Exeter during lockdown.
John Kirk (Image: Exeter Police)
Police discovered that ‘Manc Joy’ had arranged over a dozen trips between the North West and Devon in 2020 – carting drugs to the south and returning to Liverpool with hundreds of pounds each time.
Images found on Hughes’ phone showed him posing with banknotes, with bank activity showing there had been numerous large transfers associated with his account.
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He was arrested twice during lockdown for drug-related offences – once in March and again in July whilst on release under investigation.
Driver Kirk was arrested on July 14 en route to Exeter with 1,080 wraps of Class A drugs.
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Exeter Crown Court (Image: Neil Owen)
Hughes has now been jailed for four years and a month, and Kirk for three years.
During sentencing at Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans said: ”The national lockdown started on March 23, so you, Hughes, were out and about not for the purpose of permitted exercise in defiance of the proscription on all other activities.
“You both, deliberately and knowingly, acted in furtherance of a supply operation, transporting drugs, people and cash halfway across the country, sometimes in defiance of the lockdown at the height of the pandemic.”
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
2nd November 2020 
