The head of a drugs operation who exploited vulnerable people to sell heroin and cocaine on the streets of Ipswich has been jailed.

Jerome Daley, 30, of Tomswood Hill, Barkingside, controlled a network of drug users, a court heard, forcing them to sell heroin and crack cocaine on his behalf.

He was today jailed for 11 years and six months for sending dealers to Ipswich with kilos of high-purity heroin and cocaine.

Detectives discovered that Daley, described as the kingpin of the gang, ran a phone line which he used to text drug users in Ipswich informing them when he had drugs for sale.

Users would then call or text the line to place their ‘orders’ and, using the same line, Daley would contact his drug runners to give them details of the delivery.

The drug runners were locals who were exploited to run and deliver drugs, and in turn were paid in drugs to supply their own habit.

Daley was one of five young men jailed for a total of more than 25 years at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, January 22.

He was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs along with Kristian Pullen, 39, of Willoughby Road, Ipswich.

Pullen was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also placed on a curfew for four months.

Throughout the course of the year-long investigation approximately 150 individual wraps of cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of £1600 and a total of £2600 in cash was seized.

It is estimated the drug gang made the journey to Ipswich on at least 170 separate occasions, and made a total of approximately £273,000 in the space of 12 months.

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler said: “This was an extensive proactive operation between the Met and our colleagues at Suffolk Police which has led to the successful prosecution of six members of this network.

“I hope this result sends a clear message that we will continue to pursue gangs in this way, wherever in the UK they are operating.

“The harm that drugs cause communities across the UK will not be tolerated.”