Covid Crime Racket Busted: Fake Healthcare Firm Used to Hide Massive Drug Empire
A ruthless organised crime gang used encrypted phones and a sham healthcare company to keep their drugs flowing during the Covid pandemic. Now, they’ve been locked up for over 70 years.
Operation ‘Rainbow Care’: The Sting That Collapsed the Empire
The crackdown started on May 1, 2020. Officers spotted gang boss Kurt Bradshaw acting shady in his Volkswagen Scirocco. A search found bags of cannabis and an iPhone. A raid on Bradshaw’s Thornton-Cleveleys home uncovered more cannabis, cash-counting gear, phones, and drug ledgers.
- Kurt Bradshaw – Kingpin, trapped with encrypted phones and huge drug deals.
- Jack Pope, Craig Hollis, Kynan Dawes – co-conspirators caught red-handed.
- Jessica O’Brien – arrested with cocaine and scales at her Blackpool home.
- Laura Riding – Pope’s partner, found with cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Encrypted Phones and a Fake Company to Dodge Covid Rules
Bradshaw ran the operation through encrypted handsets, including Encrochat devices later cracked by international police. Texts revealed orders, deliveries, and cash runs. His fiancée Tina Sullivan was dubbed “The Queen” on his phone, demonstrating her key role.
To skirt lockdown, the gang created Rainbow Care Ltd, a bogus healthcare firm papering over their drug dealings and allowing dealers to claim legitimate reasons for moving about.
Nicole Watson, sister of gang member Lee Watson, organised the drug rotation schedules, cash handling, and fake company documents.
Massive Haul and Staggering Cash Flows
- Pope counted more than £80,000 in two months.
- Sullivan moved £110,000 between Lancashire and Wolverhampton.
- Dianne Banks grew cannabis, paid dealers, and operated the drug phone.
Sentences Handed Down
- Kurt Bradshaw, 30, Blackpool – 7 years 1 month for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Dianne Banks, 42 – 6 years 9 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.
- Robert Jones, 36 – 5 years 3 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Tina Sullivan, 29 – 4 years 6 months for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Jessica O’Brien, 28 – 4 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
- Craig Hollis, 21 – community order for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
- Laura Riding – pleaded guilty; sentencing set for January 2024.
Police Praise Operation Warrior Team
DI Kirsty Wyatt said: “This was a sophisticated criminal network bent on flooding our county with illegal drugs for greed. Their use of encrypted phones and fake healthcare papers during Covid was shameless. Thanks to our dedicated officers, especially DC Brierley, for dismantling this gang. The sentences reflect their roles perfectly.”
This successful bust was part of Operation Warrior, Lancashire’s fight against serious organised crime.
