The Lewis crime gang, based in Norwich, were involved in a violent drug dealing operation, selling heroin and crack cocaine worth up to £300,000. The gang, known as the Lewis line, engaged in a turf war using machetes, terrorizing the local community. The Norfolk Constabulary’s County Line team began investigating the gang in December 2021, after discovering a drugs phone operating under the brand name “Lewis”. Operation Hobble led to the arrest of several gang members, including Liam Bolt, who was found with an 18-inch machete in his possession, and Jamie Proctor, Tyler Murphy, Edward Quigley, Calvin Garwe, Lee Cook, George Doyle, and Scott Bodily, who were all sentenced for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs as part of the gang. Additionally, Nigel Bestford and Chloe Levy were jailed for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
The gang’s criminal activities led to violent incidents in the community, including fights, slashings, stabbings, and maimings. The situation escalated to the point where 18-year-old dealer Joe Dix was stabbed seven times by a drugs gang, resulting in his death. Surveillance showed that the gang operated out of various locations in Norwich, including Burleigh Tower, where Nigel Bestford and Chloe Levy resided. After a police raid in January 2022, the gang moved their operations to Bowthorpe before being apprehended by detectives. Further warrants were carried out in locations such as Seaman Tower and Wymondham, leading to more arrests and convictions of gang members.
The Lewis gang members, who were involved in a large-scale drug dealing operation in Norwich, were sentenced to significant jail time for their crimes. Liam Bolt, Jamie Proctor, Tyler Murphy, Edward Quigley, Calvin Garwe, Lee Cook, George Doyle, and Scott Bodily were all jailed for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, while Nigel Bestford and Chloe Levy received sentences for being concerned in the drug supply chain. The gang used violent tactics, wielding machetes and engaging in a brutal turf war over drug deals, which terrorized the local community. The arrests and convictions of the gang members were the result of extensive investigative work by the Norfolk Constabulary’s County Line team, who worked to put an end to the Lewis line’s criminal activities.
The Lewis crime gang’s operations and subsequent arrests were documented in an episode of the Channel 5 show Police: Suspect No. 1. The episode, which aired on September 2, 2024, followed detectives as they gathered evidence to charge key suspects in the case. The show provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at police investigations and the efforts to bring criminals to justice. Police: Suspect No. 1 has three seasons, with each season focusing on different cases and the police work involved in solving them. Viewers can catch up on past episodes through Channel 5’s catch-up service, My5.
