09/10/2026
Members of a drugs gang used thermal imaging drones, hidden cameras and vehicle trackers to plot and execute a series of burglaries against rival criminals.
As well as targeting other criminals' cannabis farms, the 11-man OCG, led by 24-year-old Mitchell Edge, also ran a sophisticated production, supply and money laundering business of their own.
Ten members of the gang, which mainly operated from Clifton, were today (Friday) jailed for more than 60 years after an investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).
Edge, who was involved in every burglary, and would call upon others as necessary as grows were targeted in Lenton, St Ann's, Mapperley, Hucknall and Basford.
On other occasions, the group targeted addresses as far afield as Reading, Bedford, Doncaster and Leicester.
An investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) unmasked the people responsible through their phone data, journeys and financial records.
Detectives also discovered that the group had used a thermal imaging drone to find rival grow locations, and positioned secret cameras to monitor their targets and plan their break-ins.
The gang also attached trackers to vehicles used by rivals, and conducted surveillance for weeks before they attacked their grows, entering properties wearing balaclavas as they did so.
Mitchell Edge was identified as the leader of the burglary plans, the co-ordinator of cannabis farms, facilitator of wholesale cannabis supply, and the controller of financial movements.
An iPhone seized from him provided the most important evidence for officers, who found plans, messages, videos of burglaries, grow updates, key financial records and links to almost every suspect.
Financial investigations showed the men had unexplained wealth - with several members of the OCG showing little or no declared employment, but a significant bank turnover as a result of their criminality.
Eleven men appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday 9 October.
A full list of their charges, pleas and sentences is below:
• Mitchell Edge, 24, of Green Acre, Edwalton – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle, two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis), three counts of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis).
He was jailed for eleven years, three months.
• Brad-leigh Cairns, 30, of Highwray Grove, Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis).
He was jailed for nine years.
• Sol Sharpe, 24, of Highbank Drive, Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis).
He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal.
He was jailed for five years, four months.
• Leo Beales, 23, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty on day three of trial to conspiracy to burgle.
He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal, and was jailed for five years, four months.
• Christopher Junior Cope, 25, of London Road, Leicester – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, and was jailed for four years, nine months.
• Cory Rhodes, 30, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle.
He was also sentenced for a previous offence of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and domestic violence, and was jailed for eight years, eight months.
• Liam Kennerdale, 41, of HMP Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to supply a controlled Class B drug (Cannabis). He was jailed for three years, six months.
• Saimir Chysa, 32, of Bexwell Close, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis).
He was jailed for three years, six months.
• Mirjan Koxhaj, 37, of Belconnen Road, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis).
He was jailed for four years.
• Thanh Van Ngo, 31, of Serlby Rise, Nottingham – found guilty of conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), and possession of criminal property (namely money in a bank account).
He was jailed for five years.
• Benjamin Slodczyk, 36, of Waterdown Road, Nottingham – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce a Class B drug (Cannabis) and was jailed for 18 months (suspended for two years).
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