The proposal happened just moments before their world imploded. Jack Donegan, seemingly lost in a romantic gesture with Saskia Steward, was utterly unaware that detectives were already closing in, preparing to raid their home. It was a carefully constructed facade, a final, desperate attempt at normalcy before the weight of their criminal enterprise came crashing down.
Their operation wasn’t small-time. Recovered from Donegan’s phone, a detailed spreadsheet revealed the staggering scale of his ambition: over 800 kilograms of Class A drugs distributed across the country, generating profits exceeding £26 million. Text messages, brazen in their casualness, spoke of “sound” customers and projected monthly earnings of £15,000 – a chilling glimpse into their calculated greed.
The network stretched far beyond their base in Warrington, reaching Derby, London, and even Great Yarmouth. Donegan didn’t handle the risks himself. He employed a network of couriers, moving the drugs under the radar, and a dedicated “minder” to manage storage and distribution. It was a meticulously organized machine built on exploitation and fueled by addiction.
The first cracks appeared with the arrest of Stephen Joel-Craven, the gang’s “money man.” Found with £5,000 in cash during a routine traffic stop, a subsequent search of his home unearthed a staggering £300,000 and a counting machine – a blatant symbol of their illicit wealth. This seizure began to unravel Donegan’s carefully constructed empire.
A crucial breakthrough came at Knutsford Services on the M6. A courier, transporting 12 kilograms of cocaine concealed within a seemingly innocuous blue box, was detained. This single interception provided detectives with the vital link they needed to connect the dots and focus their investigation squarely on Donegan.
The culmination of the investigation, codenamed Operation Acropolis, saw twelve properties raided across five counties. The timing was particularly poignant; Steward had recently given birth to their daughter, a new life entering a world shadowed by her parents’ choices. The arrests signaled the end of a vast and damaging criminal enterprise.
Donegan ultimately admitted to conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and received a 15-year prison sentence. Steward, convicted of participating in the activities of an organized crime group, received an 18-month suspended sentence. Seven other men involved in the operation were collectively sentenced to 54 years, a testament to the severity of their crimes.
Detectives described the operation as “meticulous and far-reaching,” dismantling one of the most significant organized crime groups in the North West and beyond. The case serves as a stark reminder of the relentless pursuit of those who profit from the misery of others, and the dedication required to dismantle such complex criminal networks.
