PROSECUTORS involved in bringing notorious druglord Lee Docherty's gang to justice have welcomed the lengthy prison terms handed out today which 'dismantled their grip on the local community'.

Five members of the organised crime group were sentenced to a total of more than 31 years behind bars for their involvement in plying Inverclyde with cocaine, heroin, cannabis and etizolam between March and December 2020.

Greenock Telegraph: The Oxford Road baseThe Oxford Road base (Image: NQ)

Docherty, described as the gang’s principal member, was jailed along with Ian Millar, Brendan Gillan, Daniel Gillan and Christopher McKellar.

Judge Lord Mulholland also imposed serious crime prevention orders on Docherty, Millar and Brendan Gillan.

READ MORE: Druglord and cohorts jailed for 31 years ran operation like a 'supermarket'

Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “For years, the criminal activities of these individuals have impacted the everyday lives of many ordinary people in the Larkfield area of Greenock through their significant involvement in serious organised crime.

“They caused widespread disorder and disruption within the local community through the supply of drugs and their influence on young people.

Greenock Telegraph: The Larkfield HQ was heavily protectedThe Larkfield HQ was heavily protected (Image: Crown Office)

“This extended to every facet of the community, from local people living in the area to those who ran shops or businesses.

“But now, thanks to the efforts of officers within Police Scotland and prosecutors at the COPFS, their grip on the local community has been dismantled.”

READ MORE: 'An inside person in every top crime group': How Greenock drugs gang was toppled

Ms Corrins added: “The members of this community can now move forward safe in the knowledge that these five individuals will spend a lengthy time in prison having now been brought to justice for these crimes. There are consequences for this type of criminality.

“We hope these convictions and the sentence send a strong message to others involved in this kind of criminal behaviour and demonstrates the ability of police and prosecutors to investigate, prepare and prosecute serious and organised crime of this nature.

“We continue to target all those who threaten communities across Scotland, working as a key part of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to protect the people of Scotland.”

All five gang members will now also be the subject of confiscation proceedings under proceeds of crime legislation.