A MURDERER’s family members have been jailed over a drugs ring worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Paul Holcroft plunged a knife into the heart of love rival Christopher Lamberth back in 2007 as the victim celebrated his 21st birthday.

Warrington Guardian:

Left, Paul Holcroft, and, right, Christopher Lamberth

Now the killer’s dad, sister and cousin are all facing lengthy spells behind bars for their roles in a gang which shipped huge amounts of heroin and cocaine across the country.

Cousin William ‘Billy’ Barton sourced the drugs, while his dad – also called Paul Holcroft – and sister Kirsty Holcroft were involved in couriering these illicit substances from Warrington to Doncaster.

A seven-month operation by South Yorkshire Police between November 2016 and June 2017 saw £300,000 of drugs and £80,000 of cash seized from the organised crime group.

The Orford trio and another 11 gang members from Wakefield and Doncaster have now been imprisoned for more than 100 years.

Fifty-seven-year-old Paul Holcroft Snr and 34-year-old Kirsty Holcroft, both of Grace Avenue, were found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs after a trial and handed eight years behind bars each.

Barton, of Ireland Street, admitted the same charge, and the 33-year-old was jailed for 12 years.

Detective inspector Mitch Leach, of South Yorkshire Police’s serious and organised crime unit, said: “This was an organised and sustained operation, where the group members were moving large amounts of high purity class A drugs and selling to members of the public.

“This result is significant, with the group now serving over 100 years behind bars between them – and officers across the unit worked tirelessly to secure evidence to enable this case to progress before the courts.

“No matter how sophisticated or organised a drugs operation may be, or appear to be, our specialist team is committed to identifying those involved, disrupting their organisation and bringing them before the courts to be held to account.”

Known as Pigsy, Paul Holcroft Jnr was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend’s ex-partner.

Mr Lamberth was stabbed to death in the hallway of his mum’s house on Manchester Road at his 21st birthday party in November 2007.

Warrington Guardian:

Holcroft armed himself with a 26cm ‘Rambo’ hunting knife and drove to the party after hearing that his girlfriend had been attacked.

The killer ‘showed no emotion and was smirking’ after leaving his victim with a pierced heart and two punctured lungs.

Warrington Guardian:

Kirsty Holcroft was previously jailed herself for 16 weeks in 2008 after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm.

She broke a women’s jaw on a night out in Panama Jacks on Bridge Street by throwing a bottle at her victim and punching her in the face.

Warrington Guardian:

CCTV footage of Kirsty Holcroft moments before the attack

Shaun Richardson, of North Avenue in Orford, also stood trial alongside the Holcrofts, but the 28-year-old was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply a class A drug.