THREE generations of a Bodmin family have been jailed for a total of 29 years for their part in a major drugs ring.
It is believed that up to £1 million of heroin was brought into Devon and Cornwall by the 16-strong group.
Today they received jail sentences for a total of more than 70 years.
Three generations of the same Cornish family took part in the plot by which a stream of couriers brought drugs to first Torbay and then Bodmin.
Bodmin grandparents Michael and Teresa Wood helped two of their three sons and their grandson run the supply chain which was disrupted by a lengthy and sophisticated police surveillance operation.
Mrs Wood was caught in Torquay with £50,000 worth of heroin in her shopping bag – alongside the Cornish pasties she had bought for their supper.
She claimed she was on the way back from a bingo trip with her husband and that the drugs had been thrown into her bag when she was not looking.
A police operation, codenamed Raby, spent two years tracking the movements of couriers as they made 40 trips to the South West. Grandfather Michael Wood was watched as he made 14 trips from Bodmin to Torbay to pick up drugs.
The judge praised the efforts of the police and forensic service as he handed down severe jail sentences on the conspirators, including five members of the Wood family who were jailed for 29 years and six months in total.
Michael Wood, aged 75, was jailed for six and a half years; his wife Teresa, aged 63, and grandson Jake, aged 24, were both jailed for four years. All lived at Furze Hill, Bodmin, Ivan Wood, aged 43, was jailed for nine years and his brother Calvin, aged 41, for six. They both lived at Monument Way, Bodmin.
All the defendants admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs with the exception of Teresa Wood and Mark Gale, who denied the charge.
Judge Gilbert told the defendants: "The reality is that those who involve themselves in the dealing and supply of class A drugs are involved in very serious criminal activity and must expect custody. "This must have been a complicated investigation for the police and I commend the officers involved."
Ray Tully, prosecuting, said the drugs supply chain stretched from Liverpool to Torbay at first with drugs being moved on to Bodmin.
Mr Tully said: "Various members of the Wood family were involved, including Teresa, her husband, her sons, and grandson. They were all deeply involved in the supply of heroin. "It was in effect a family business. Her role was on occasion to lend a hand and provide assistance, and on one notable occasion she and her husband were stopped in a car containing heroin.
"There is no doubt there had been a drugs supply chain from Liverpool to Torquay and Bodmin and it involved some members of the Wood family."
Lawyers representing all the defendants said they many had been drawn into the world of drugs by their own or their families' addictions but should be given credit for admitting their involvement.Lee Bremridge, for Teresa Wood, said she is in poor health and would struggle to cope with prison.
It is believed that up to £1 million of heroin was brought into Devon and Cornwall by the 16-strong group.
Today they received jail sentences for a total of more than 70 years.
Three generations of the same Cornish family took part in the plot by which a stream of couriers brought drugs to first Torbay and then Bodmin.
Bodmin grandparents Michael and Teresa Wood helped two of their three sons and their grandson run the supply chain which was disrupted by a lengthy and sophisticated police surveillance operation.
Mrs Wood was caught in Torquay with £50,000 worth of heroin in her shopping bag – alongside the Cornish pasties she had bought for their supper.
She claimed she was on the way back from a bingo trip with her husband and that the drugs had been thrown into her bag when she was not looking.
A police operation, codenamed Raby, spent two years tracking the movements of couriers as they made 40 trips to the South West. Grandfather Michael Wood was watched as he made 14 trips from Bodmin to Torbay to pick up drugs.
The judge praised the efforts of the police and forensic service as he handed down severe jail sentences on the conspirators, including five members of the Wood family who were jailed for 29 years and six months in total.
Michael Wood, aged 75, was jailed for six and a half years; his wife Teresa, aged 63, and grandson Jake, aged 24, were both jailed for four years. All lived at Furze Hill, Bodmin, Ivan Wood, aged 43, was jailed for nine years and his brother Calvin, aged 41, for six. They both lived at Monument Way, Bodmin.
All the defendants admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs with the exception of Teresa Wood and Mark Gale, who denied the charge.
Judge Gilbert told the defendants: "The reality is that those who involve themselves in the dealing and supply of class A drugs are involved in very serious criminal activity and must expect custody. "This must have been a complicated investigation for the police and I commend the officers involved."
Ray Tully, prosecuting, said the drugs supply chain stretched from Liverpool to Torbay at first with drugs being moved on to Bodmin.
Mr Tully said: "Various members of the Wood family were involved, including Teresa, her husband, her sons, and grandson. They were all deeply involved in the supply of heroin. "It was in effect a family business. Her role was on occasion to lend a hand and provide assistance, and on one notable occasion she and her husband were stopped in a car containing heroin.
"There is no doubt there had been a drugs supply chain from Liverpool to Torquay and Bodmin and it involved some members of the Wood family."
Lawyers representing all the defendants said they many had been drawn into the world of drugs by their own or their families' addictions but should be given credit for admitting their involvement.Lee Bremridge, for Teresa Wood, said she is in poor health and would struggle to cope with prison.
