NINETEEN drug dealers from across Somerset have been jailed for a combined total of 53 years and four months.

It follows a nine-month long police investigation into the supply of Class A drugs in the county.

Among those jailed were Kyle Pike, 20, of Hopkins Street, Weston-Super-Mare and Lee Crawley, 48, of Lovers Walk, Weston-Super-Mare.

Pike was sentenced to six years and six months behind bars for four counts of supplying heroin and four counts of supplying cocaine in addition to the possession of a firearm while Crawley was given a three year and eight month prison term for four counts of supplying heroin.

In addition to those given immediate custodial sentences, seven other people were given suspended prison terms of up to two years while one woman received a two year community order.

All those sentenced were filmed selling drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Warrants were later executed at properties in Chard, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Nailsea, Sherborne, Weston-super-Mare, Yatton and Yeovil.

Chief Superintendent Ian Wylie, the area commander for Somerset and North Somerset, said: “We are committed to tackling drug dealing and all the associated crime and anti-social behaviour that comes with it.

“People shouldn’t have to live in places where dealers freely sell their drugs on the streets, in parks or in areas where children play which is what was happening in a number of Somerset towns.

“We always listen to the concerns of our communities but it can take us some time to develop the intelligence we receive and people shouldn’t assume that because they don’t see immediate results, that it isn’t being acted upon.

“The complex nine-month long investigation which has resulted in these sentences is proof of this and has shown that we in Avon and Somerset are in no way a soft touch and will do everything we can to ensure our communities are safe and feel safe.

“I am pleased with the sentences handed down by the judge but I’d like to stress that our commitment to tackling drugs does not end here and we are in this for the long term.

“Local policing teams are making their presence known on the streets and are making them hostile to new dealers moving in, as well as ensuring those looking to buy drugs are put in touch with support services which can help them turn their lives around.”

Those receiving immediate prison sentences were:

• Alan Peter Turner, 46, of North Street, Nailsea - jailed for two years

• Anthony Steven Vowles, 32, of Alfred Street, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for two years six months

• Ashley James King, 28, of Laburnum Road, Weston-super-Mare - jailed for two years six months

• Benjamin Richard White, 31, of Brompton Road, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for three years

• Brian Gary Munson, 44, of Royal Crescent, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for two years eight months

• Daniel James Bevan, 29, of Alfred Street, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for two years

• Daniel Rushworth, 25, of Ivel Court, Yeovil - jailed for three years four months

• Gabriel Lopes, 36, of Holyrood Street, Chard – jailed for two years

• Krystian Atherton, 41, of Manilla Crescent, Weston-super-Mare - jailed for two years

• Kyle Christian Pike, 20, of Hopkins Street, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for six years six months

• Lee Mark Crawley, 48, of Lovers Walk, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for three years eight months

• Louise Margaret Barnes, 48, of Stafford Road, Weston-super-Mare - jailed for two years eight months

• Louise Powell, 35, of Coleridge Road, Weston-super-Mare - jailed for two years eight months

• Luke Rugman, 20, of Bell Close, Bristol – jailed for two years four months

• Mark Anthony Kay, 40, of Meadow Street, Weston-super-Mare - jailed for two years eight months

• Paul Terrence Clark, 47, of Ashcombe Road, Weston-super-Mare - jailed for two years eight months

• Ryan Anthony Love, 32, NFA – jailed for two years six months

• Ryan Gerard Skelhorn, 29, of Gatehouse Close, Bristol - jailed for three years

• Vincent Martin, 45, of Churchill Road, Weston-super-Mare – jailed for two years eight months