Undercover police catch drug dealers

Five Shrewsbury drug dealers have been jailed for a total of more than 13 years after undercover officers infiltrated the "drug-taking community" posing as addicts.

Two police officers using the pseudonyms Rob and Andy acted as customers in the Rock and Fountain pub in Castle Foregate – described as a "hotbed of people dealing in and using drugs" – for a number of months.

The move was part of Operation Clear, which ran in the latter half of 2008 and the beginning of this year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

A number of people dealt illegal drugs to the undercover officers and were arrested.

Among those was 49-year-old Maxwell Short, of Falcons Way, Shrewsbury.

He admitted three counts of supplying crack cocaine, two of supplying heroin, two of supplying cannabis and asked for 16 further offences to be taken into account. He was jailed on Thursday for four years.

Christoper Peck, 47, and his partner Carol Taylor, 51, both of Lansdowne Road, Bayston Hill, were jailed for 30 months.

Peck, who was sentenced on Thursday, admitted sev- en counts of supplying her- oin, two of supplying heroin and one of possessing her- oin. Taylor, sentenced yesterday, admitted two counts of supplying heroin and one of supplying crack cocaine.

Adrian Bailey, 46, of Abb- ey Foregate, Shrewsbury, admitted two counts of supplying cocaine and was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Thursday.

Patrick Price, 53, of Maesbrook Road, Meole Brace admitted 21 counts of supplying cannabis and one of possession with intent to supply cannabis. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison on the same day.

And 27-year-old Nathan Herbert, of Sultan Road, Sh- rewsbury, admitted possessing and supplying cocaine and was given a suspended sentence on Thursday.

At court yesterday, 42-year-old David Ecclestone, of Stapleton Road, Shrewsbury, was spared prison. He admitted three offences of supplying cocaine and possession of cannabis and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work.

Lee Marley, 46, and his wife Florence Marley, 49, of Springfield Way, Shrewsbury, were also dealt with yesterday.

Both admitted one count of supplying heroin and we- re sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work. Other dealers and runners are to be sentenced at a later date.

By Rhea Parsons