A DRUG dealer from East Lancashire who acted as a link man for a major northern narcotics network has been jailed for 11 years.

Detectives say Sonny Dickson, 28, moved between 17 and 34 kilos of heroin and cocaine from his controllers in Liverpool to the streets of Lancashire.

Dickson, of Dalkeith Road, Nelson, met with a courier on at least 70 occasions to arrange the distribution of drugs between Merseyside and Blackpool, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

He worked closely with a courier, John Carey, 34, whose job it was to move heroin and cocaine between the city and the resort from December 2015 to September 2016.

One of Dickson’s partners-in-crime, Aaron Sankey, was also described as "prolific" and he also worked closely with Josh Baker, 28.

All four were convicted of conspiracy to deal in class A drugs. Dickson was jailed for 11 years, Baker, of Tewkesbury Avenue, Blackpool, for nine years and four months and Sankey, of Balmer Grove, Blackpool, for eight years, by Judge David Aubrey QC.

Carey, of Henry Street, Liverpool, who used 13 different mobile phones to keep track of his trade, was imprisoned for 11 years and four months.

Twenty-two men were ultimately dealt with for a wider drugs haul, which encompassed, Liverpool, Lancashire, the Isle of Man and Cumbria, receiving jail terms totalling more than 220 years.

Drugs with a street value, including a kilo-and-a-half of heroin, two-and-a-half kilos of cocaine and 53 kilos of cannabis, were impounded during eight different swoops by detectives on the gang.

Ringleaders were known to have lived "lavish" lifestyles as a result of their ill-gotten gains, with police confiscating £250,000 in cash and high-end TVs, sporting memorabilia and cars valued at £200,000 hauled away after the drug dealers were locked up.

One main player, Ian Spackman, 37, from Maghull, who enjoyed lengthy holidays in Dubai and Thailand and had a rented apartment in Malaga on a long lease, was jailed for 17 years and four months.

Speaking after the case Det Chief Insp Steve Reardon, said: "Organised crime groups like this, who deal in the wholesale supply and distribution of controlled drugs, don’t care about the impact that supply of drugs has in our communities and the associated misery and acquistive crime it brings to our streets."