THE former girlfriend of a drug dealer has been spared jail after she gave evidence against a gang of men who supplied ecstasy and cocaine in a North-East town.

Clare Neary spoke out for the Crown against her abusive ex-boyfriend, Darren Sheen, after they were arrested for conspiracy to supply class A drugs in Darlington.

Sheen was part of a gang of dealers who were caught following an undercover operation by Durham police. Dubbed Operation Karaman, it began in 2003 and ended in a series of raids across the town last year.

Eight men, all from Darlington, who were part of the conspiracy were jailed last month for a total of 37 years.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday that Neary lived in fear of Sheen, 26, with whom she had been in a violent relationship for two years.

Chris Morrison, prosecuting, said Neary admitted she had driven Sheen to a pub carpark on two occasions, in August and September 2003, where he handed over 1,000 ecstasy tablets in exchange for money.

He said Neary, 26, had given evidence against her former partner, which had also helped net other members of the gang.

Nicholas Peacock, defending, said her life had changed since she had broken away from Sheen. She had started college, was in a new relationship and moved away from the area.

He said: "She effectively grassed up everyone else and, as a result of that, she is someone who is now in a great deal of fear."

Neary, whose address was withheld, admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and was given 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

* Darren Paul Sheen, 26, of Haughton Road, Darlington is currently awaiting sentence.