A DRUG dealer from Tameside who fled to the Caribbean after being found guilty has finally been jailed.
Nicholas Knowles, of Bowness Road in Ashton-under-Lyne, faked an illness to avoid going to court after he was convicted of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine as the head of the ‘Tommy’ drugs line gang.
But after almost six years, he was located in the Caribbean on October 9, 2024 and captured before being brought back to this country.
Now the 32-year-old is serving a jail term of more than 14 years after being handed sentence of 34 weeks to run consecutively to his 13-and-a half-year punishment, which was passed in his absence in 2018.
Detectives shut down criminal activities of an organised crime group in May 2015, after four other gang members all pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and were sentenced for their involvement.
Knowles was dubbed as the head of the crime group and controlled its day to day running after it started in 2013.
Three other members pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Bolton Crown Court in December 2016 and January 2017.
Detective Inspector Ian Toole, of Greater Manchester Police, said of Knowles’ jailing: “We are pleased to report that Knowles has been in court to face justice at last after attempting to run away from the justice system, and has now been sentenced.
“His actions and the actions of the crime group blighted our local community and exploited vulnerable people further afield.
“On the day of his sentencing in 2014, he pretended to be ill and using this as an opportunity to flee the country which started an international manhunt to locate him.
“No matter how much time has passed, we won’t give up on finding you. We were assisted using our partner agencies to drag him back to the UK to face justice.
“If you are a criminal that has fled the UK to live in another country and thinks they can enjoy a life of luxury, you can’t, we will find you and bring you back to face justice.
“It is only a matter of time before there will be a knock at your door and you will be dragged back here to face justice.”