A Hadleigh scrap dealer has been handed a suspended prison sentence, while two other men have been sentenced to more than 12 years in jail for drug offences.

Paul Fenton, aged 56 of Gaelle Crescent in Hadleigh, was given a suspended sentenced of two years and six months and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community service, after he had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to permitting premises to be used for producing class A drugs.

Christopher Southart, aged 35 of Valley Road in Harwich was jailed for eight years and two months at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 5 August after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing in January 2020 to possession of drugs with intent to supply cocaine

Kevin Parr, aged 60 of Alexander Street in Harwich was jailed for four years and six months at crown court after being found guilty at an earlier hearing of conspiring to supply cocaine.

The sentences follow a police operation that took place on 11 September 2019 after the recovery of around two kilogrammes of cocaine.

Officers from the Cyber, Intelligence and Serious Organised Crime directorate, supported by uniformed colleagues, arrested Southart and Fenton at Flowton near Somersham.

The swoop came after Southart was seen entering a large shipping container at Camperdown Pit scrapyard, owned by Fenton.

A large amount of cash and a Range Rover were also seized.

A further related search at an address in Harwich the following day resulted in the arrest of Parr with two kilograms of cannabis also recovered.

DI John Allison of the cyber, intelligence and serious organised crime department said: "The arrests and charges were the result of a concerted effort by officers from the Cyber, Intelligence and Serious Crime Directorate. The sentences should serve as a warning to those involved in organised crime".

Information can help the police remove drugs and violence from communities. If you know of suspicious activity taking place in your locality please let us know using the 101 number and police will respond, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.