Eight members of a notorious family-run crime gang from Halton Moor in Leeds have been brought to justice after years of fuelling a "culture of fear" on the estate. At Leeds Crown Court, the group, led by 46-year-old Christopher Hargreaves, were sentenced for their roles in operating a large-scale drug supply network dealing in cocaine and cannabis across the city.
The gang's central hub was an address on Rathmell Road, which featured heavy security measures including internal metal bars, security gates, CCTV, and film over the windows. Police raids also uncovered weapons, including machetes and a Taser, at entry points. West Yorkshire Police revealed that the investigation began in 2023 with a raid on the same property.
Further police action in September 2025 led to the arrest of more gang members, including Kyle Hargreaves, 19, and Kasey Simpson, 29. Christopher Hargreaves was apprehended at Skelton Lake services while attempting to dispose of a mobile phone. He was also found in possession of thousands of pounds during his arrest.
Detective Inspector Alastair Nicholls hailed the multi-year investigation as a success, stating that the Hargreaves family and associates had "run the Halton Moor estate through a culture of fear." The detective added that the community would now feel safer with this threat brought to an end. Seizures from the properties included significant quantities of cannabis and cocaine, along with drug dealing equipment, phones, weapons, cash, watches, and clothing.
Christopher Hargreaves pleaded guilty to Class A and B drug supply and received an eight-year prison sentence. Kyle Hargreaves was sentenced to five years and four months for the same offences. Other members, including Farooq Azam, Macaulay Clark, Victoria Snook, Leah Hargreaves, Tyler Foley, and Kasey Simpson, received sentences ranging from four years and six months to suspended sentences, community orders, and curfews.