A major-league drug ring has been smashed after a dealer and his "willing assistant" were sent to jail.

Kevin Rippe, 37, and Mark Beecham, 25, were part of a group supplying 6,000 ecstacy tablets, 64 kilos of super-strength cannabis and half a kilo of cocaine to the UK through Harwich, Chelmsford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Police planted covert listening devices in the car and home of Rippe, of Cliff Road, Harwich, in October, 2000, to try to track class A and B drugs being imported into the country.

Anthony Abell, prosecuting, said the younger man was Rippe's "willing assistant", adding he would "do Mr Rippe's bidding".

After one large shipment, Mr Abell told the court, Rippe was heard to say: "That's my class A for Christmas. That should keep Harwich happy for a week or two."

Following months of undercover observation, police swooped on Rippe's house in the early hours of December 11, 2000, and arrested him.

Beecham, of Admirals Court, Nelson Road, Harwich, knocked at his door a few hours later and was also arrested.

In mitigation, the court heard how Rippe was not the central player and only took part because of financial difficulties.

After previously admitting three charges of conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy, he was jailed for seven and a half years.

Beecham, who was recently married and also has a young child, was the least involved in the dealing, the court heard in mitigation.

After also pleading guilty to the same three charges, he was sent to prison for four and a half years.

Published Wednesday November 6, 2002

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