A father and son drug dealing team were caught when an undercover police sting when an officer bought cocaine and heroin off the pair.

John Hayes and his son, Jay, worked together to deal drugs in the Middlesbrough area before they caught the attention of Cleveland Police.

The 42-year-old father-of-eight directed operations while his then 16-year-old son was on the street dealing the Class A drugs, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The undercover officer bought drugs from them on nine occasions between May and July 2021.

John Hayes and his now 19-year-old son, both of St Barnabus Road, Middlesbrough, each pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of a Class A drug with the intent to supply.

The Northern Echo: John HayesJohn Hayes (Image: Cleveland Police)

Rod Hunt, representing Hayes senior, said his client had slipped into drug dealing when he found himself in financial difficulties and has kept himself out of trouble since his arrest almost three years ago.

He said: “He was not driving around in a BMW with blacked out windows, this was clearly someone attempting to keep his head above water.”

And Ellen Wright, representing Jay Hayes, said her client was only 16 at the time of his offending and should be treated as a juvenile would have been.

She added: “This was the first time he has been in trouble with the police.”

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The Northern Echo:

Recorder Felicity Davies said: “John Hayes, you started an enterprise selling Class A drugs on the streets of Middlesbrough. Jay Hayes was working as a street dealer.

“John, you had control of others, particularly your son.”

John Hayes was jailed for two years and eight months while his son, Jay, was made the subject of an 18-month community order.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.