George rogers drug charges

A 78 year-old who plotted to set up a crystal meth production line likened to the TV series Breaking Bad has been jailed for 18 years. The trial heard Rogers, who has cancer, saw potential in the market in the south-west for the drug. Breaking Bad is about a teacher who makes crystal meth to raise money after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

The court heard Rogers masterminded the plot from behind bars. Unlike the fictional version, the real-life plot stopped before the gang could flood the region with drugs after undercover police bugged their cars. Police closed down the operation because of the risk of explosion posed by manufacturing the highly volatile crystal meth. Rogers was convicted of conspiracy to produce MDMA ecstasy , methamphetamine, amphetamine and conspiracy to supply cocaine and jailed for 18 years.

Gary Gooda, 46, of Shefford, Bedfordshire, convicted of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and amphetamine but found not guilty of conspiracy to produce MDMA, jailed for 11 years. Steven Williams, 58, of Brislington, Bristol, convicted of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine, jailed for seven years.

Rogers, 31, also was implicated

Karl Thomas, 44, of Gloucester, convicted of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine, jailed for eight-and-a-half years. Wojchech Kolodziejcski, 27, of West Bromwich, West Midlands, was convicted of conspiracy to produce amphetamine, jailed for four years. Ryan Kelly, 30, of Bristol, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine at a previous hearing, jailed for five years.

Det Insp Jim Taylor, of Avon and Somerset Police, said Rogers was looking to "set up a drugs empire" which "could have had a significant impact on our communities". HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Image source, other. Also jailed for their part in the crime were:. More on this story.