Two drug dealers have been jailed after being caught selling heroin to an undercover police officer in Ipswich.
Roy Backhouse, 54, of London Road, Ipswich, was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment by the town’s crown court after previously pleading guilty to supplying a Class A drug.
Darren Bray, 38, of St George’s Street, Ipswich, was given a 26-month jail term after admitting two counts of the same offence.
Prosecutor Nicola May said the offences occurred on September 23 and 25 last year during a covert police operation.
At just after midday on September 23 an undercover officer known as ‘Chris’ contacted Bray and arranged to meet him outside Iceland in St Matthew’s Street, Ipswich.
Both men then walked into the Civic Drive subway where Bray asked Chris what he wanted.
When Chris said he wanted drugs Bray started telephoning numbers in an attempt to find a dealer.
The pair then went to London Road where they saw pony-tailed Backhouse.
Bray handed over some money given to him by Chris, and Backhouse gave him a matchbox in return.
Bray took out a wrap of heroin, containing two smaller wraps, and gave it to Chris.
Photographs were taken of the transaction as part of the covert operation.
The court heard that when Backhouse’s mobile telephone was checked after his arrest messages linked to the ‘Marlow’ drug business were found, although he claimed he did not work for the gang.
On September 25 Chris met up with another man in Civic Drive, before they went on to meet Bray in Portman Road.
The meeting was observed by police surveillance officers.
Miss May said Bray asked Chris and the other man if they wanted ‘to score’.
When they said yes, Bray called a man named Rock and ordered drugs.
They eventually went to the area around St Matthew’s Church where Bray collected heroin and handed it to Chris in exchange for £10.
The court heard Bray and Backhouse, a former dock worker, both had previous convictions and were addicts.
In addition to pleading guilty to the drug charge Backhouse also admitted he was in breach of a conditional discharge he was given on February 4 last year for possessing a Class A drug.
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