Kettel, Clinton, and Murray sentenced for cocaine supply

Daniel Kettel, Keaton Clinton, and Liam Murray were sentenced on 25 March at Warwick Crown Court for offences related to the supply of cocaine.

Kettel and Murray were also sentenced for affray on 5 April 2024 at Leamington Spa Magistrates Court.

These charges followed an investigation which began on 17 October 2023, when Kettel’s (33, from King Georges Avenue in Bedworth) car was spotted conducting what appeared to be a drug deal on Borough Way in Nuneaton.

It emerged that Kettel and Murray (26 of Clifton Road, Nuneaton) had both been involved in running a cocaine supply line across Coventry, Bedworth, and Nuneaton.

Large amounts of text messages had been sent and calls made from their phone numbers to known drug users in the area, including one (from Kettel) reading “I don’t do tick whilst Liam is away”.

For those not in the know – “tick” is a reference to drugs provided with payment promised in future.

The messages frequently referenced Keaton Clinton (21 of Sherbourne Avenue in Ryde) as a driver and runner for Murray and Kettel.

On 21 November 2023, officers executed Section 8 warrants on Whitmore Park Road in Coventry, the home address of Murray, and Queen Mary’s Road in Bedworth, where Kettel was living.

Murray and Clinton were both arrested at Whitmore Park Road, where officers also discovered:

 

• 3 grammes of cocaine
• Nine grammes of cannabis
• Numerous packets of Tramadol Hydrochloride (a strong opioid-based painkiller)
• CS spray
• Extendible baton
• Machete
• Gas-powered handgun
• £4,037.46 in cash

 

 

A pair of smart phones were also found at the property, confirmed to be handsets linked to the drug supply line.

At the address in Bedworth, officers found another pair of smart phones (also linked to the line), £1,650 in cash, and a wooden handled machete.

Receipts were discovered at both addresses suggesting that Murray and Kettel had both been living far beyond their means, as well as evidence of a holiday to Turkey and four motorbikes worth thousands of pounds in the garage in Bedworth.

In interview, Kettel referred to the wooden-handled machete as an “ornament”- when asked where it was kept, he responded “haven’t seen it for ages”. He also said that if he owed any tax on his income, he was “happy to pay it”.

On 25 March, Kettel, Clinton and Murray appeared in Warwick Crown Court.

Clinton pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and was given a suspended sentence of 24 months, suspended for two years.

Kettel pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and to the possession of criminal property and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Murray pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of criminal property, possession of CS gas, possession of cannabis, and possession of tramadol (a Class C drug).

Murray has received a prison sentence of three years.

In addition to the charges around drugs supply, Kettel and Murray along with Ky Walding (38 of George Eliot Avenue, Bedworth) were found to have been involved in an incident on 20 August of last year, during which officers were called to a fight on Queen Mary’s Road in Bedworth.

A Nissan Micra with a damaged windscreen and windows was driving away from the scene, which was stopped. Walding, the driver, disclosed that his car had been smashed up with a hammer by Murray and Kettel.

Murray and Kettel were arrested at the scene. Initially, Walding was treated as a victim and was free to go, but later admitted in interview that he had attended the address to settle an issue with Kettel and used threatening behaviour while there.

CCTV footage showed an argument between the three men, during which Kettel was swinging a hammer around in the street.

At Leamington Spa Magistrates Court on 5 April, Kettel and Murray pleaded guilty to affray, and each received six weeks in prison and received a victims’ surcharge of £154.

Walding pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence. He has been issued with a £50 fine and a community order requiring him to attend rehabilitation activities for 20 days.

An officer from the Nuneaton Serious Organised Crime Team said “Cocaine is a blight on the planet – not just our communities – and each granule has a history of violence, death, and pain stretching around the globe.

“All this, just so a few people can have a bit of a buzz at the weekend.

“Murray, Kettel, and Clinton selfishly chose to be involved in a blood-soaked trade to pay for holidays, motorbikes, and other luxuries for themselves. We hope that their sentences will encourage them to consider their impact on the world and not just their own pockets.”

PC Morrison said “Walding, rather than wandering round looking for a confrontation, should have taken a moment to breathe and de-escalate.

“Kettel and Murray, rather than taking the opportunity to beat their chests, would also have been better off keeping a level head.

“All three have been shown the consequences of their actions – the ball is now in their court to not make the same mistakes again.”