The real-life Mitchells: 72 years for Sheffield's PXG drugs family - even grandma is jailed

The mob ran a major criminal operation - just like their EastEnders namesakes Phil, Grant and Peggy.

Joe Mitchell, who continued to run the Parson Cross-based gang – known as ‘PXG’ – from his prison cell even after he went into custody for previous drug-dealing offences in late 2013, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence.

Sheffield Crown Court was told the Mitchell family and their associates were involved in dealing heroin, cocaine and cannabis and had access to guns to protect their territory.

Friends and relatives of the crime family were in tears in a packed public gallery as they were all jailed at Sheffield Crown Court.

Ringleader Joe Mitchell was previously jailed in 2009 after photos of him posing with weapons were circulated on the internet and used by police as evidence to help jail him for firearms offences.

Judge Simon Lawler QC said three months of monitored phone calls between Joe Mitchell and his associates in late 2013 and early 2014 revealed evidence of an “organised and well-run drugs supply operation”.

He said: “The operation involved substantial profits and Joe Mitchell boasted of £10,000 profits in the three months he was in custody.

“It was a family-based business, including unhappily three generations, partners and other members who were paid by and trusted by the dominant force which was Joe Mitchell.”

Judge Lawler said the group was “buying and selling an ounce of heroin and cocaine at least every couple of days” – making a profit of £1,100 on each ounce they sold.

While in prison, Mitchell also obtained an illicit phone.

The monitored phone conversations helped police to build a case against Mitchell as they revealed the extent of his drug-dealing operation and how it was continuing while he was in custody.

Those involved included his mother Jayne, his sister Kaley, his grandmother Carol, his girlfriend Vanessa Fitton, his girlfriend’s brother Frankie Fitton and his sister Natasha’s boyfriend Levi Sendel.

Also involved were Nathan Lang, Rhyan Howden and Owen Thorpe.

The gang was also involved in transactions with twins Brad and Connor Murphy, who ran rival drug-dealing operations.

Those sentenced for a range of drug offences were: Joe Mitchell, aged 29, of Southey Green Road, Sheffield was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possessing a handgun, possessing a firearm with intent, possessing criminal property. Levi Sendel, 21, of Southey Green Road, Sheffield was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possessing a handgun and possessing a firearm with intent. Vanessa Fitton, 29, of Barrie Road, Sheffield was jailed for nine months for conspiracy to supply cannabis. Kaley Mitchell, 25, of Crowder Close, Sheffield, was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to supply cannabis , conspiracy to take Class C drugs into prison and control of criminal property. Jayne Mitchell, 49, of Southey Green Road, got six-and-a-half years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

Rhyan Howden, 28, of Lytton Drive, Sheffield was sentenced to five years for possession of a pen gun with intent. Carol Mitchell, 69, of Launce Road, Sheffield, was jailed for nine months for possession of criminal property

Nathan Lang, 23, of Penrith Road, Sheffield, was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of a sawn-off shotgun. Frankie Fitton, 22, of Lindsay Avenue, Sheffield, was jailed for 10 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possession of cocaine and cannabis. Connor Murphy and Brad Murphy, both 24, of Shirecliffe Road, were jailed for seven-and-half-years and six-and-a-half years respectively. Owen Thorpe is to be sentenced later for conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis.