A man who was arrested during a police operation which targeted drug dealing in Ipswich has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was 24-year-old Dean Lambert, of no fixed address, who admitted supplying heroin on March 31.

He was given a 21 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Sentencing Lambert Judge Martyn Levett said: “Operation Portugal focused on the high density of dealing in certain areas of Ipswich where large quantities of Class A drugs have been flooding the local market.

“In the last six months I have dealt with 56 defendants as a result of this operation involving dealing to undercover police officers,” said the judge.

He said that on March 31 an undercover police officer ordered three wraps of heroin on a drug hotline and Lambert had turned up with the drugs and handed them to the officer.

Charles Myatt for Lambert said his client had no previous convictions.

He said Lambert had been in custody for seven months and needed help to maintain a drug free life.