A COUPLE who flooded the streets of Darlington with heroin have been jailed for a total of nine-and-a-half years.

Paul Abbs, 41, was locked up for six years and his partner, Amy Kent, 23, was given three-and-a-half years by a judge at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge George Moorhouse told the pair they had brought misery to the streets of their home town with their drug-dealing.

The couple were the final people to be jailed after an undercover police operation as part of Operation Thespian. The operation - designed to disrupt street dealers who peddled hard drugs - led to 23 people being charged, and sentences ranging from two to six years.

Abbs, of Wolsingham Terrace, was convicted after a trial last month of conspiring to supply heroin. Kent, of Ravensdale Road, admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Their friend, Nicola Russell, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply Class A drugs last year and was sentenced earlier this week.

The 33-year-old, of Yarm Road, was given a 12-month sentence suspended for a year with conditions to undergo probation service supervision and a six-month drug-treatment course.

Russell - who had been in custody since admitting her guilt in October last year - gave evidence against Abbs at his trial.

The court heard that she was pressured into dealing from her home by Abbs, and for every five wraps of heroin she sold, she was given one for her own use.

She was told by the judge: "It is clear from your interview with the police that you were in fear for your own safety and for that of your child.

"You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and gave evidence at the trial of your co-accused which resulted in his conviction, and that took great courage on your behalf."

Judge Moorhouse told addict Abbs: "You have seen the effect heroin has on people and, therefore, let it be a warning that anyone who dabbles in drugs commits a very serious offence."

Rod Hunt, mitigating, said Kent was also held under Abbs' power.

Following his sentencing, Mr Hunt said: "She will be able to rebuild her life without his influence. Now that Abbs is out of the way, the coast is clear."

Judge Moorhouse told her: "You were well aware of what was going on and party to it."