Three county line drug dealers from Gillingham are among those jailed for supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Medway.

They were among a network of eight others who were part of the self-styled 'Ace' gang which operated in the towns between February 2016 and 2017.

The group has been jailed for more than 40 years between them.

Ten offenders were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court today. Another will be sentenced early next month.

Frankie Lester, of Saunders Street, was sentenced to three years in prison.

The 36-year-old was found guilty of conspiring to supply heroin and crack cocaine following a trial which finished on Wednesday, June 26.

Meanwhile, Michaela Whiting, who lives in the High Street, was jailed for two years and 10 months.

David Howarth, of Manor Street, was sentenced to two years and three months.

The network was identified after four drug warrants were carried out at Gillingham properties through 2016.

Around 400 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were seized from these warrants, along with 11.8grams of uncut crack cocaine.

Numerous mobile phones were also seized and their records provided officers with a gradual stream of information on the structure of the network.

Investigating officer, DC Danny James, said: "These offenders have been brought to justice following a painstaking investigation which saw more than a dozen addresses targeted and messages from over 80 phones analysed.

"The offenders, particularly those coming down from London to operate this network, were motivated by the desire to make money from people struggling with drug misuse and they cared little for the impact such offending has on communities affected.

"This case demonstrates we have the resources, time and know-how to identify and target those supplying drugs - regardless of how sophisticated and organised they think they might be.

"I am pleased we have secured justice and I hope the sentence passed acts as a strong deterrent to anyone with ambitions to become involved in such offending."

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