Kirkheaton gunman Alistair Bell’s history of gang violence
Dec 30 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Kirkheaton gunman Alistair Bell’s history of gang violence
ALISTAIR Bell had spent time in prison for his role as an enforcer for a gang of ruthless drug dealers.
Bell, divorced, with a daughter and stepson, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years in March 1997 for false imprisonment, wounding and possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear.
It followed an eight-week trial at Leeds Crown Court after which brothers Peter and David Brocklesby, who ran a drugs business in Ravensthorpe, were jailed for a total of 43 years.
Mr Bell, who was 28 at the time and living in Foxlow Avenue, Rawthorpe, was part of the gang that protected the brothers’ drug trade in heroin and crack cocaine.
He was one of the henchmen responsible for kidnapping, imprisoning and torturing customers suspected of stepping out of line by “grassing” or defaulting on payment.
The gang was said to have had more than 70 customers a day visiting their “shop”.
Among their tactics was to stab victims before sewing the wounds back together with rudimentary needles.
In one incident Mr Bell provided muscle when drug addict Andrew Mournian was given rough surgery with a sewing needle after being stabbed.
