'Untouchable' family-run crime gang sentenced

Eight members of an organised crime group whose "safehouse" was equipped with machetes, CCTV and security gates have been sentenced.

The "large-scale" operation was led by Christopher Hargreaves, 46, with a number of his family members and associates involved in supplying cocaine and cannabis across Leeds, West Yorkshire Police said.

An address on Rathmell Road in Halton Moor was previously used as a pick-up point for drugs on an estate police said was run by a "culture of fear".

Following raids, Hargreaves was arrested at a hotel at Skelton Lake services in possession of thousands of pounds and the eight defendants were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court earlier.

Police first raided a property on Rathmell Road in 2023, before raids on two further houses on Rathmell Road in September 2025 which led to the arrests of fellow gang members Kyle Hargreaves, 19, and Kasey Simpson, 29.

The gang had secured the property with metal bars on the inside, along with weapons at "entry points" and film over the windows, the force said.

Cannabis, cocaine, drug dealing equipment, phones and weapons were seized, along with cash, watches and clothing.

There had been evidence of a fire in the kitchen, where the group had tried to "burn evidence, including a mobile phone", according to the police.

During the arrest of gang leader Hargreaves, he was seen to throw a mobile phone out of a window, which showed another man, Tyler Foley, 29, had been assisting his evasion of police.

Det Insp Alastair Nicholls said his team had gathered evidence over several years.

"The Hargreaves family and associates have run the Halton Moor estate through a culture of fear.

"When we carried out raids at their properties, we found weapons including machetes and a Taser.

"I imagine they, and other members of the community, thought they were untouchable. This investigation demonstrates they were not."

The following sentenced were handed out:

Christopher Hargreaves, 46, pleaded guilty to Class A and B drug supply and was handed a sentence of eight years.

Kyle Hargreaves, 19, pleaded guilty to the same drug offence and was handed a sentenced of five years and four months.

Farooq Azam, 52, pleaded guilty to the same drug offence and was sentenced to four years and six months.

Macaulay Clark, 21, pleaded guilty to the same drug offence and was sentenced for three years and nine months.

Victoria Snook, 41, pleaded guilty to the same drug offence and was sentenced for two years and three months, suspended for two years, in which she has to carry out rehabilitation work and unpaid work.

Leah Hargreaves, 23, pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs and failing to comply with a Section 49 order. She was handed a suspended sentence of two years. She has to carry out rehabilitation work and unpaid work.

Tyler Foley, 29, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and was given a nine month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with requirements to carry out rehabilitation activity and unpaid work.

Kasey Simpson, 29, pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property, supplying Class A and B drugs and was given a two-year community order and three-month curfew.

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