Bridlington Drugs Trio Sentenced

Three offenders connected to a long‑running investigation into class A drug supply into Bridlington have been sentenced at Hull Crown Court.

Mason Markham, 30-years-old, of Industrial Avenue in Birstall, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A cocaine and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to twelve years behind bars and was imposed a Serious Crime Prevention Order of five years which will take effect upon his release from prison.

Nathan Cunningham, 31-years-old, of Albion Street in Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A cocaine. He was sentenced to three years and four months behind bars.

Venetia Webb, 31-years-old, of Prickett Road in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A cocaine. She received a suspended sentence of one year and ten months.

This case concludes a detailed investigation into how class A drugs were sourced in West Yorkshire and pushed to street level in Bridlington, using rotating phone lines, and drug runners.

Detectives were able to establish through extensive evidence that Mason Markham directed the operation throughout, replacing people and relaunching phone lines as others were arrested.

An investigation was launched in April 2024, with specialist detectives conducting drugs warrants at targeted addresses in Bridlington that were suspected to be linked to the network. On 16 April 2024, officers seized £85,000 in cash and approximately £320,000 worth of cocaine from a 35‑year‑old man, a known associate to Markham.

Phone evidence recovered at the scene showed he was chasing debts and moving drugs using a line owned by Markham. A device owned by Markham was also retrieved after being thrown from an upstairs window and contained messages about drugs money being held for him.

Markham absconded to West Yorkshire, and the 35‑year‑old man, Markham’s accomplice, later pleaded guilty to acting as custodian of the drugs and cash and received a prison sentence of six years and six months in April 2024.

As that line collapsed, detectives identified a replacement drugs line linking Hull, Bridlington and Patrington. A 31‑year‑old man coordinated day‑to‑day supply using a drug dealing phone and recruited a 30‑year‑old woman, a 28‑year‑old man, and a 26‑year‑old woman to sell at street level.

Following this, further drugs warrants were carried out in July 2024 which led to the seizure of an additional drugs line handset and other personal devices. Messages uncovered referenced a line labelled “MM”, adverts seeking “runners to work for Mason”, and showed Markham had contacted the 31‑year‑old man over 80 times. All four later pleaded guilty to drug supply offences and were sentenced in August 2024. Markham was not arrested during these warrants as he remained wanted in West Yorkshire.

With another line disbanded, detectives identified a fresh dealing phone activated in October 2024. Enquiries showed Nathan Cunningham was running the drugs line from a bail hostel in Batley, West Yorkshire, where he was sending bulk texts advertising the sale of cocaine. Cunningham used his partner, Venetia Webb, to deal at street level in Bridlington, while Markham stayed in overall control.

Warrants conducted on 30 December 2024, at addresses linked to the trio in West Yorkshire resulted in further arrests and device seizures. Markham was found inside the property and subsequently arrested, and a mobile phone suspected to belong to him was recovered nearby.

Evidence from Markham’s device set out his role in sourcing cocaine in bulk, supplying Cunningham for onward street dealing, and directing runners all while evading arrest.

Messages on Webb’s device showed her taking instructions from Cunningham and reporting she had been “taxed” of drugs or cash on 24 December. Cunningham’s phone showed him arranging re‑loads, weighing stock, and overseeing the line, with regular contact with Markham.

Markham, Cunningham and Webb were subsequently charged and appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Thursday, 9 October 2025.

As part of Mason Markham’s sentencing on Friday, 12 December 2025, the court also considered earlier offending linked to Markham whilst he was on bail for separate offences. This was in relation to a routine traffic stop in 2020, where officers recovered a bag of cash believed to be the proceeds of class A drug sales, a quantity of cannabis, and a mobile phone. Analysis showed the phone was being used in the supply of drugs.

Offences were also considered from 2022, which were a result of detectives establishing a conspiracy to supply drugs, in which Markham directed a 33‑year‑old man, who acted as his runner. Bulk advertising messages were sent to hundreds of contacts offering quantities from sub‑gram deals to wholesale amounts. Markham’s accomplice, a 33-year-old man, later pleaded guilty to drugs offences and was sentenced in October 2025.

Detective Inspector Matt Grantham said:

“This was a complex and sustained investigation into organised drug supply across county lines.

“The timeframe of the investigation reflects the scale of this case. Officers analysed numerous devices, thousands of messages and extensive financial and communications evidence to ensure the charges reflected the full extent of offending and that the case file was robust.

“These convictions are the result of months of meticulous work by officers across multiple specialist teams that are determined to hold offenders to account.

“Markham, Cunningham, and Webb played clear roles in a criminal network that sought to profit from bringing significant quantities of class A drugs into Bridlington, with no regard for the consequences or the harm they cause.

“Our teams work relentlessly to dismantle organised crime groups, protect those at risk of exploitation, and prosecute those responsible. Thanks to the persistence and dedication of everyone involved in this investigation, we’ve been able to shut down this network and remove a significant quantity of harmful drugs from the community.

“This work forms part of multi-agency Clear Hold Build initiative in Bridlington which aims to clear criminal influence and build long-term resilience with the community through partnership working.

“I’d like to thank the public for continuing to report suspicious activity. Please don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate action, these are complex investigations and much of the work happens out of sight to get to the root of organised drug supply. Every piece of information we receive helps us build a clearer picture and take meaningful steps towards charges and convictions.”

Police say if you have concerns about what’s happening in your area, speak to your local officer, call into your nearest station or contact the non‑emergency 101 line.

If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, information can be reported via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.