SIXTEEN drug suppliers arrested after a major police swoop in Burnley are facing jail tomorrow and the first eight have appeared before a judge.

The defendants were all caught by an undercover officer named "Paul," in Operation Nimrod, a covert investigation aimed at targeting street level dealing in East Lancashire.

Video and audio equipment was used to capture deals at several addresses in the Burnley Wood area including two houses in Parkinson Street, between last March and May. All but one of the eight were said to be addicts, selling hard drugs in £10 wraps to feed their habits, and all are now in custody after Judge Alan Taylor warned them prison was inevitable.

The first eight were committed to Burnley Crown Court by the town's magistrates for sentence and had admitted the charges against them.

They were: Vincent Shaw, 26, of no fixed address (three counts of supply), Gary Dean, 38, Marlborough Street (being concerned in supply), Craig Royle, 39, Parkinson Street (two supply counts, one allegation of possession), Daniel Fisher, 20, Somerset Street (four supply charges), Deborah Lawrence, 24, Cog Lane, (three counts of supply), Lee Murphy, 33, Brennand Street (one supply count), Amanda Nerney, 20, of Pine Street (three supply-related charges), and Antoinette Heap, 43, Holly Street (four supply charges, one being concerned in supply and one of possession).

Philip Potter, prosecuting, said Shaw was involved in the supply of heroin wraps at almost 50 per cent purity. He had 47 previous convictions. Heap, who had 92 previous convictions, knew others there were dealing and joined in for reward.

Sarah Statham, also prosecuting, said Royle was a tenant in Parkinson Street, at one of the houses where the undercover officer got drugs. Miss Statham said Dean, who had no drug-related previous convictions, was aiding and abetting a supplier.

The prosecutor said Fisher was "running the shop." He allowed the undercover officer entry and personally handed him drugs. Lawrence helped the test purchaser to get drugs, visiting local dealers three times.

Mark Stuart, defending all eight, said Operation Nimrod had not been aimed at major dealers. All defendants had pleaded guilty and deserved credit.