Mersey drug family jailed for 82 years

Three generations of a Liverpool crime family have been jailed for selling heroin, cocaine, crack and ecstasy across the city.

Seven members of the Whitney family were jailed yesterday following a three-year operation by undercover officers from Matrix – the specialist unit within Merseyside police set up to deal with gun crime.

The gang was headed by Paul Whitney, 33, who was jailed for nine years and four months after admitting conspiracy to supply class-A drugs.

His mother, Carol, 54, who was described as the gang's banker, was sentenced to eight years in prison. She was also convicted of possessing nearly 50,000 ecstasy-type tablets.

In the court with Mr Whitney were father Leslie, 57, who was sentenced to seven and a half years, and his sister Lisa, 30, who received four years.

Three other family members and six non-family members were also sentenced for conspiracy to supply class-A drugs.

The court was shown footage of Matthew Mayor, 37, throwing 2kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of up to £120,000, from the window of his Mercedes while police followed him.