Drugs baron Shane "Pacman" Bennett was officially branded the ringleader of a Basildon gang which plotted to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

Bennett, one of 11 convicted drug dealers, denied being the brains behind the conspiracy so a special hearing to rule on his involvement was held at Basildon Crown Court yesterday (Monday).

But his barrister, Ian Pearce, said: "Since Mr Bennett has been on remand in custody he has had time to reflect on his position. He now takes the view that it would be wise to abandon the hearing."

Judge Philip Clegg said: "Of all those in the dock he (Bennett) was the most culpable as the organiser of this conspiracy."

The judge said Bennett, 28, of Southwark Path, Basildon, and the rest of the gang would be sentenced in November.

Unemployed Bennett was said at a previous hearing to be the leader, distributing drugs to his "employees".

He moved to Basildon from London to set up the "business," in several cases recruiting drug addicts and paying them in heroin or crack cocaine, instead of cash.

Bennett also provided them with cars and mobile phones to boost trade, selling hundreds of "wraps" a day to addicts. He became wealthy, owned several cars and bought a £3,000 Rolex watch for his girlfriend.

Bennett and his cohorts were arrested after a three-month undercover police "sting" operation, one of the biggest ever mounted in Essex.

Officers infiltrated the gang by posing as drug pushers from the south coast.

Detectives said violent crimes plummeted by a third in and around Basildon after the gang was rounded up.

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