Eleven men are starting jail sentences totalling almost 60 years for their part in one of Basildon's biggest drugs rings.

Meanwhile, the mother of one of the dealers, Mathew Nicholls, has spoken of the agony she experienced during his seven-year struggle with heroin addiction.

As he began a six-year sentence, she said: "I will be eternally grateful to the police and the prison service for giving me my son back.

"It has been a nightmare - I've lived the life of an addict for seven years, and I've never touched the stuff."

Mathew begged his mother for drugs money, as well as turning to theft and drug-dealing to feed his habit. Barbara, of Laindon, said Mathew's habit would have killed him if he had not been arrested.

The gang were arrested on October 15 last year after a three-month undercover police operation, which revealed their use of mobile phones and cars to provide a round-the-clock service selling heroin and crack cocaine.

At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Philip Clegg described the conspiracy as "organised and vicious".

Nine of the men and the teenager admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. Ringleader Shane Bennett, 29, of Southwark Path, Basildon, received a 12-year sentence, and was condemned because, as a non-drug taker, he set up the conspiracy purely for profit. More than £3,000 found in his home was confiscated.

His second-in-command, Justin Pritchard, 28, of Winstree, Pitsea, was jailed for eight years, and lost £660 and two cars. Judge Clegg said he had used his "undoubted reputation as a man of violence" to intimidate salesmen and customers.

Brothers-in-law and heroin addicts Mathew Nicholls and Lee Bowen, both 27 and of The Hyde, Laindon, received sentences of six and five years respectively for their activities in selling crack cocaine for the conspiracy, and lost cash and drugs paraphernalia.

David Brockett, 28, of Bockingham Green, Pitsea; Terry Leeks, 26, of Hastings Road, Southend; Russell Mason, 27, of Mellow Purgess Close, Basildon; and Trevor Jones, 26, of Ravenscourt Drive, Laindon, were each jailed for four years.

Lee Nathan, 29, of Partridge Green, Pitsea, who did not take drugs and claimed he got into dealing to control the supply to his addict girlfriend, also received a four-year sentence.

Mark Blackford, 29, of Sandon Road, Pitsea, who played a small part in the conspiracy, was also jailed for four years. Michael Stokes, 18, of The Frettons, Basildon - already serving 27 months for burglary - was given a three-year sentence in a young offenders' institution.

Anguish - Barbara and, left, her son Mathew

By Jo Moorhouse

Reporter's e-mail: jo.moorhouse@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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