Seven more men and one woman have been jailed for their involvement in a large-scale drugs conspiracy centred around Tunbridge Wells.

A total of 16 men and women have now been sentenced to a total of 141 years.

Simon Khalil, who helped mastermind the high purity cocaine operation while on early release from another sentence for drug dealing, had already been locked up for 12 years and four months.

Now, his partner Samantha Prescott, of School Rise, Tunbridge Wells, has been sentenced to nine years.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said the 30-year-old mother was drawn into the drugs world after be seduced by Khalil’s charms.

“You allowed him into your house when he was released on licence,” he said. “As such, it became a criminal hub in his operation in which you joined him.

“No doubt, you were also motivated by greed. In any event you became his personal assistant.

“You are a single mother. "It is a consequence of your offending and sentence that your relationship with your daughter will be dislocated for a period, for which you must bear heavy responsibility."

Prescott worked at a tanning shop in Tunbridge Wells which Khalil - described as a violent drug dealer - used to launder money.

Brian Lebbon, of no fixed home, was sentenced to 10 years and seven months, Shah Hussain, 38, of Durrants Road, Enfield, to eight years and eight months, Daniel Austin, of Whitmore Street, Maidstone, to three years, Paul Spittles, 45, of The Meadow, Pembury, to 14 years, Beejay Gade, 38, of Croft Court, Edenbridge, to seven-and-a-half years, Gary Willis, 31, of Sandhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, to five years and eight months and Ricky Moore, 23, of no fixed address, to six years and four months for the drugs conspiracy and two years consecutive for separate offences of assault and criminal damage.

Maidstone Crown Court heard police uncovered a wholesale cocaine supply operation during 2013 and last year.

"It is a consequence of your offending and sentence that your relationship with your daughter will be dislocated for a period, for which you must bear heavy responsibility” - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

The prosecutor said there was a “safe house” in Albion Mews, Tunbridge Wells, where cocaine, 800 ecstasy tablets and £7,000 were seized. More cocaine was found at a garage in Sandhurst Park in the town.

“Cocaine was purchased from and distributed to other wholesale dealers over a geographically disparate area,” said Mr Hope.

“Khalil was running a wholesale cocaine supply operation from Tunbridge Wells, buying in cocaine by the kilogram and selling it on in similar quantities.”

Gade, Moore, Shah, Willis, Lebbon and Austin admitted conspiracy to supply drugs. Gade, Willis and Lebbon also admitted money laundering.

Spittles and Prescott denied the drugs conspiracy and money laundering and were convicted.

Investigating officer, Det Sgt Mat Scott, said: “I’m delighted that we have now been able to successfully bring 16 people to justice for their roles in what was a comprehensive and widespread criminal operation to supply class A drugs.

“These people are motivated entirely by greed and their plan was to saturate parts of west Kent with as much cocaine as possible, with no regard whatsoever for the damage their actions could cause to individuals and communities.

“Between them, they will now have considerable time to reflect on their crimes.”