THE final members of a gang responsible for an £8m-a-year drugs cartel were sentenced yesterday.

Jeffrey Brown, 32, of High Croft, Spennymoor, was given a two-year combination order after admitting his part in the conspiracy as well as witness intimidation in a separate case.

Nicholas Barker, prosecuting, said Brown had been involved in supplying drugs once, on November 3, 2003, when he set up a deal for which he was paid £5.

As part of Operation Bridport, detectives spent six months posing as addicts to infiltrate the gang, who operated from homes in Middlesbrough to avoid attracting police attention.

Behind the seemingly innocent exterior, they controlled a network of selling drugs across the region, but instead of spending the money they gained on houses, cars and clothes, it is thought they ploughed it into legitimate business overseas.

Also dealt with yesterday was heroin street dealer Paul French, 24, of Percy Street, Middlesbrough.

French was jailed for four years after he admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and was given a further six months for skipping bail.

The others jailed for their part in the cartel are from Middlesbrough.