A former Shropshire man who carried out “a reign of terror” to force heroin addicts to sell drugs in Shrewsbury and Telford was today jailed for a total of 17 years.

Robert Lloyd Heywood inflicted or ordered brutal punishment beatings on those who refused to work for his drugs empire.

Shropshire-born Heywood, who was known as Junior, was convicted of conspiring to supply heroin in the two towns 14 years ago.

• For a full report on Heywood’s reign of terror see Wednesday’s Shropshire Star

Following a three-week trial, which ended today, the 45-year-old former double glazing salesman and DJ was also found guilty of wounding.

The Shropshire Star had been banned from reporting the trial until today.

At Stafford Crown Court today Judge Mark Eades said that Heywood’s group had been extremely active in purchasing heroin and using addicts to sell on the drug.

“You imposed discipline on the retailers by a reign of terror and used outrageous force to make sure they did your bidding. This combination puts this case at the apex of such offending.”

Heywood, formerly of Blakemore, Brookside, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to supply heroin between August 1995 and August 1996.

He was sentenced to a further five years for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Andre Clee with intent in 1996. Heywood had denied the charges.

The court heard how Heywood and his gang forced several vulnerable heroin addicts to sell drugs to other addicts from his Telford flat and in the Monkmoor area of Shrewsbury.

Heywood had two henchmen, Gerrard Flannagan, whom he had described as his “muscle”, and Christopher Thomas, who was his “headcase” in the operation. They ruled by fear, and a shotgun, cordless power drill, knives, baseball bats and a knuckleduster were used to threaten or attack victims who stepped out of line.

Heywood had evaded Telford police in August, 1996, but was later traced to the Republic of Ireland. Following extradition proceedings Heywood was brought back to the UK a year ago.

At a trial in 1997 at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Flannagan, Thomas and several others were jailed for their roles in the drugs conspiracy.

By Arthur Mills