NINE people have been jailed for their roles in a massive drug dealing operation that was uncovered in an undercover police sting.

The eight men and one woman were jailed at Bolton Crown Court yesterday for dealing in class A drugs, while three others were given suspended sentences for their roles in the operation.

The sentences result from the police’s Operation Maxima, which was launched last year to crack down on drug dealing in Bolton.

All those in court were considered to be relatively low-level in the operation and were dealing at street level.

The defendants were caught dealing drugs to undercover officers.

The longest sentences, of three years and eight months, were handed to Barry Griffin, aged 32, of Hughes Street, Halliwell and Lee Kinsella, aged 38, from Middleton, for dealing in heroin.

Daniel Dawson, aged 24, of The Haven, Little Lever, was sentenced to three years and four months for three offences of supplying heroin and Gareth Llewelyn, aged 31, of Langley Drive, Deane, was sentenced to three years in jail, also for dealing in heroin.

David Johnson, aged 32, of Oswald Street, Bolton, will serve three years for dealing in heroin, while Dean Goodwin, aged 24, of Cawdor Street, Farnworth, was given the same sentence for dealing in heroin and crack cocaine.

Trevor Hurst, aged 38, of Trafford Street, Farnworth, was sentenced to two years and eight months for supplying heroin and cocaine, while his partner, Clare Campbell, aged 38, was given a suspended sentence for her lesser part in the operation.

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Emma Lee, aged 32, of Carlton Avenue, Farnworth, was handed a sentence of two years and eight months for offences of supplying class A drugs — and Richard Yates, aged 22, of Church Road, Stoneclough, was jailed for two years and four months for dealing heroin.

There were also suspended sentences given to Jason Bell, aged 40, of Newport Mews, Farnworth, and Jodie Holmes, aged 26, of West Avenue, Farnworth, for their roles in the operation.

Sentencing the nine, Judge Elliot Knopf said: “You will all be aware of the nefarious effect that drugs have on our society — the public want to see these issues addressed by the authorities.”

More people are due to be sentenced for drug dealing today.