A TOTAL of nine people from across Somerset and other areas have appeared in court charged with offences relating to an alleged drugs conspiracy at addresses in Yeovil.

The nine defendants appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil charged with a variety of different offences including the supply of class A drugs, permitting drugs offences to be committed at named properties and possession of offensive weapons and an imitation firearm.

Jonathan Bell, 47, of Tower Hill, Williton, pleaded not guilty that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 at Yeovil, being the occupier of 87, Collingwood Road, Yeovil, he knowingly permitted or suffered to take place on the premises the supplying or attempted supply of diamorphine.

He also denied a second similar offence involving the supply or attempted supply of “crack” cocaine and his solicitor Gareth Needs said his client was claiming issues of duress in the case.

Daniel Francis Hockley, 33, of Church Street, Mere, was charged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 he conspired with others to supply a quantity of cocaine and a quantity of heroin. He did not enter any pleas.

Rushwan Richards, 19, of Napier Road, Waltham Forest, was charged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 he conspired with others to supply a quantity of cocaine and heroin. No pleas were entered.

Maxine McCulloch, 39, of North Street, Crewkerne, was charged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 at Yeovil she knowingly permitted or suffered to take place on 87, Collingwood Road the supplying or attempted supply of diamorphine and “crack” cocaine. She did not enter any pleas.

Layla Webb, 34, of Montrose Road, Yeovil, was alleged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 at 27, Shackleton Road, knowingly permitted or suffered to take place the supplying or attempted supplying of diamorphine and “crack” cocaine to another. No pleas were entered.

James McGuinness, 22, of Copse Lane, Ilminster, was alleged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 he conspired with others to supply a quantity of cocaine and heroin. He did not enter pleas.

Mohamed Yussuf, 19, of Wallwood Street, London, was charged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 he conspired with others to supply a quantity of cocaine and heroin.

He was also alleged that, jointly with Jack Doherty and Sarah Semple-Lauchlan he had with him in Adber Close, Yeovil, on April 15, 2016 an imitation firearm, namely a Baby Desert Eagle model CO2 pistol.

He was also charged with the same two co-defendants with two counts of being in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a metal baseball bat and a hammer. He did not enter any pleas.

Jack Doherty, 19, of HM Young Offenders Institute, Feltham, was brought before the court in custody charged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 he conspired together with others to supply a quantity of cocaine and heroin.

He was also alleged on April 15, 2016 to have been in possession of an imitation firearm, jointly with Mohamed Yussuf and Sarah Semple-Lauchlan, and also charged with two counts of being in possession of an offensive weapon on the same date with the other two co-defendants. No pleas were entered.

Sarah Anne Semple-Lauchlan, 32, of Bracey Road, Martock, was alleged that between February 28, 2016 and May 10, 2016 she conspired with others to supply a quantity of cocaine and heroin.

She was also jointly charged with Mohamed Yussuf and Jack Doherty with possession of an imitation firearm and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon at Adber Close, Yeovil, on April 15.

All nine defendants were ordered to stand trial at Taunton Crown Court and were given unconditional bail to appear before a pre trial hearing there on September 18.

Meanwhile, a 10th defendant, Serkan Ozcan, 19, of Milford Close, Hackney, did not attend the scheduled court hearing as he was on a pre-arranged holiday in Turkey.

He is charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin with others, and the case against him was adjourned until August 30th when he was ordered to appear before the court at Yeovil for the matters to be progressed.