SEVEN members of a criminal gang known as The Firm, which flooded the North West with huge quantities of Class A drugs have been jailed for a total of 63 years.

Among them was Anthony Lockwood who was put behind bars for 17 years for dealing in ecstasy, amphetamine sulphate and cannabis.

Sentencing Lockwood, Judge Anthony Ensor said he had no doubt the father-of-two was the right hand man of "evil genius" Matthew Glover who was jailed for 25 years last week for masterminding The Firm which dealt in drugs worth more than £1.6million.

Lockwood, 41, of Stocks Lane, Middop, near Gisburn, had denied three charges of conspiracy to supply ecstasy, amphetamine sulphate and cannabis resin between September 1, 1999 and February 6, 2001.

But the lieutenant of the gang was found guilty by a unanimous jury after a four-week trial at Preston Crown Court. He was jailed for 17 years for the ecstasy charge and 12 years concurrent for the other two counts.

During the trial the court heard Lockwood and Glover were responsible for organising drugs deals worth hundreds of thousands of pounds in Lancashire, Manchester and West Yorkshire. They were arrested following an Operation, codenamed Norfolk, led by the National Crime Squad.

Lockwood claimed he had nothing to do with drugs and had made his money selling electrical goods.

The six other gang members, who pleaded guilty at earlier hearings, were jailed for between two and nine years for playing what Judge Ensor described as distinct and separate roles in the conspiracy.

Thomas Harrington, 40, formerly of Beverly Road, Blacko, now of Sanders Grove, Morecambe, was jailed for nine years for conspiracy to supply ecstasy and seven years, concurrent, for conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate and cannabis.

The court heard Harrington was "heavily involved" in the conspiracy and was trusted by Glover to organise deals and arrange deliveries of drugs.

John Sawley, 44, of Little Tom's Lane, Burnley, received nine years for conspiracy to supply amphetamine and seven years, concurrent for being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.

He had been "at the heart of the conspiracy" in allowing his home to be used for the storage and packaging of drugs.

"Trusted aide and major player" James McGeogh, 50, of Lenches Lane, Colne, was given nine years for conspiracy to supply ecstasy and seven years, concurrent, for conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate and cannabis resin.

Courier Colin Threlfall, 39, of Bowland Road, Heysham, was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to supply ecstasy.

Michael Metcalfe, 44, also of Bowland Road, Heysham, was jailed for nine years for conspiracy to supply ecstasy.

The court heard he was a major customer of Glover and closely associated with The Firm's leader.

Peter Baldwin, 40, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years for conspiracy to supply cannabis resin and two years, concurrent, for being concerned in the supply of amphetamine sulphate. The court heard he was a minor player in The Firm, acting as a courier.

Three other men, Paul Davies, 30, of Montague Drive, Burnley; David Guy, 41, of Kingsmill Lane, Huddersfield, and Robert Sumner, 36, of Church Street, Macclesfield, also pleaded guilty to various drug charges and will be sentenced on Friday, April 5, at Manchester Crown Court.

After passing sentence, Judge Ensor congratulated the National Crime Squad on the successful operation and praised one of the officers, Det Sgt Tony Hilton, for his impressive and comprehensive work.