TWO men have been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for drug offences.

Police seized about two kilogrammes of cocaine, two kilogrammes of cannabis, a large amount of cash and a Range Rover in an operation that led to the arrest of the pair in 2019.

Christopher Southart, 35, of Valley Road, Dovercourt, was jailed for eight years and two months last week after admitting to possession of drugs with intent to supply cocaine at an earlier hearing in January 2020.

Kevin Parr, 60, of Alexander Street, Harwich, was jailed for four years and six months at Ipswich Crown Court after being convicted of conspiring to supply cocaine at an earlier hearing.

A third man, Paul Fenton, 56, from Hadleigh, was given a suspended sentence of two years and six months and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community service.

Fenton had admitted permitting premises to be used for producing class A drugs at a previous hearing.

The sentences follow a police operation which took place on September 11, 2019, after the recovery of about two kilogrammes of cocaine.

Officers from the Cyber, Intelligence and Serious Organised Crime Directorate, supported by police officers, arrested Southart and Fenton at Flowton, near Somersham, in Suffolk.

A large amount of cash and a Range Rover were also seized.

A further search at an address in Harwich the following day resulted in the arrest of Parr with two kilogrammes of cannabis also recovered.

Det Insp John Allison said: “The arrests and charges were the result of a concerted effort by officers from the Cyber, Intelligence and Serious Crime Directorate.

“The sentences should serve as a warning to those involved in organised crime.”