Forty years behind bars for 19 in drugs ring in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge

A DRUGS ring supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge has been smashed by police.

Fourteen men and women, including eight from Tunbridge Wells, will spend a total of more than 36 years behind bars.

Three offenders from Tunbridge Wells and one from Tonbridge were handed suspended sentences.

Police spent three months gathering evidence against the network in an undercover operation.

Then in February last year, a series of dawn "strikes" saw more than 100 officers swoop on addresses across Tunbridge Wells and 30 arrests made.

Several of the offenders lived just streets away from each other in Ramslye, Showfields, Sherwood and Tunbridge Wells town centre. Six lived in London, Maidstone and Romney Marsh.

Kent Police's serious and organised crime unit Det Insp Tom Richards said some of the network was supplying drugs commercially while many were drug users, supplying others to fund their own habits.

Det Sgt Keith Roberts added: "The majority of these people received substantial custodial sentences. We hope it has sent out a very clear message that we are not going to tolerate this and anyone who does get found supplying Class A drugs is going to be dealt with very firmly and will receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

"This is good for people to see, especially in an area such as Tunbridge Wells where you wouldn't expect these kind of offences to happen.

"The supply of Class A drugs leads directly to acquisitive crimes – people stealing to fund a habit, so to get these people off the streets will have a clear impact."

Following the undercover operation from August to October 2007, in which officers gathered evidence against the network of suppliers, a series of dawn raids was carried out on addresses in Tunbridge Wells on February 29, resulting in more than 30 people being arrested and charged. Further arrests followed.

Det Insp Roberts said: "The ones we did not catch up with on the day have all been caught up with and all have been prosecuted successfully."

Claire Brown, 45, from Cherry Tree Road, Tunbridge Wells, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

James Woodiwiss, 39, of Summervale Road, Tunbridge Wells, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and was sentenced to 24 months behind bars.

Mia Robinson, 41, also of Summervale Road, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to supplying heroin.

Faithful Smith, 40, of Ropers Gate, Tunbridge Wells, pleaded guilty to supplying crack cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.

Stephen Farmer, 59, of Friezland Road, Tunbridge Wells, was sent to prison for 24 months after pleading guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

Carol Bogg, 35, formerly of Connaught Place, Tunbridge Wells, who now lives in Dart Close, Strood, was sentenced to an 18-month community order after pleading guilty to supplying heroin.

Sherilee Woodward, 31, of St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after pleaded guilty to supplying heroin.

John Elliot, 48, of Silwood Close, Tunbridge Wells, who pleaded guilty to supplying heroin, possession of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to supply, was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

Michael Pearson, 36, of Sherwood Road, Tunbridge Wells, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and abstracting £541 worth of electricity for which he was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment.

Arthur Keighly, 53, of Greggswood Road, Tunbridge Wells, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being found guilty of supplying heroin. He pleaded not guilty.

Tony Ticehurst, 39, of Dudley Road, Tunbridge Wells, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and was sentenced to 36 months behind bars.

Alan Brown, 45, of Dudley Road, Tunbridge Wells, was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to supplying heroin.

Stephanie Lewis, 23, of Quarry Hill Road, Tonbridge, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months for supplying heroin.

Shaun Edwards, 44, of Orgarswick Avenue, Romney Marsh, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and possession of heroin with intent to supply and was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment.

Peter Smith, 47, of Fleming House Bail Hostel, Maidstone, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to supplying and being involved with the supply of heroin.

D'Andre Gunn, 25, of Chatsworth Estate, London, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of possessing heroin with the intent to supply, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to supply and obstructing a police officer. He was sentenced to 52 months imprisonment.

John Foy, 19, of Westbridge Road, Battersea, London, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment.

Adam White, 26, of Lakeview Road, West Norwood, pleaded guilty to supply of cocaine and being concerned with the supply of heroine. He was sentenced to 56 months in prison.

Luke Simmonds, 25, of Fleming House Bail Hostel, Maidstone, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment.