TWO brothers were netted by an undercover police investigation into drug dealing in Lancaster.

John and Kevin Ireland were go-betweens for two officers helping them to obtain heroin on several occasions.

And both were sentenced to three years and nine months prison on appearing before Preston Crown Court.

John Ireland, aged 30, and his 25-year-old brother, both of Maple Grove, Marsh, Lancaster, pleaded guilty to supplying diamorphine and being concerned in the supply of the drug. Mr David Pickup, prosecuting, said an undercover police operation targeted drug traffickers in Lancaster. It ran from October to December last year.

Two officers, a woman named Chris and a man named Karl, were trying to target some other people. The woman began attending a centre known to be frequented by drug users and suppliers. Over a period of time she got to know the brothers.

On a date in October Chris told Kevin Ireland that she had a son who was on heroin and on and in a bad way. She also told the defendant she needed to get him some thereby seeking an introduction to drug suppliers.

Kevin Ireland and his brother then took the woman officer to the Marsh estate. They went to a house in Sycamore Grove and she was given on bag of heroin after paying £20. The prosecution said the charges in the case were specimen ones. John Ireland was involved with three supplies and Kevin Ireland two.

The following month the second undercover officer named Karl became involved. The overall amount of the drugs involved was 627 milligrammes of heroin.

On one date the defendants were seen injecting themselves. Neither of them made any comments during police interview. The police operation led to the arrest of around eighteen people over the course of three days.

Mr Keith Thomas, defending, said the brothers had never sought to deny the circumstances.

He added: "They do feel to some considerable extent that they were definitely induced. The officers went to their home and also the female told one of the defendants her son was in a bad way and could they help."

The Irelands involvement lasted six weeks and they were not arrested until August this year. Passing sentence Judge Andrew Blake said it had not been a fleeting supply. They had been prepared to continue facilitating the supply of drugs.

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