GANG leaders of a group who brought drugs down from London and laundered the proceeds from their sale in Taunton and Bridgwater have been handed prison sentences at Taunton Crown Court.

Anh-Tuan Tran-West, a former semi-professional footballer, received eight years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and a four year sentence, to run concurrently, for conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Tran-West, 22, from south-east London, pleaded guilty shortly before a trial of co-defendants was due to begin in January.

He was sentenced at a separate hearing on Tuesday, (February 24).

He was arrested at this home with 124 grammes of high-purity cocaine (street value of about £33,000), cash, scales and a cutting agent traces of heroin.

The investigation had proved about £40,000 had been paid in cash into his bank account from a Bridgwater branch.

At the sentencing, Garry Green, defending for Tran-West, said the 22-year-old deeply regretted what he had done and accepted he had placed the public at risk.

But sentencing, Judge Ticehurst described Tran-West as the spider at the centre of the web.

He said: "The misery Class A drugs bring to this community is all too clear.

"They cause crime and families are split apart.

“It is orchestrated by people like you who are only interested by money – it was greed, pure and simple, at the expense of those addicted to Class A drugs.”

Christopher Longe, 19, and also from south east London, was sentenced by Judge David Ticehurst yesterday, (February 26), to six years in a young offenders’ institution for his part in the drug supply conspiracy, and three years for the money laundering offence – also to run concurrently.

Four others were also sentenced at the hearing yesterday.

Former professional footballer Michael Boateng was spared a second spell in prison having recently completed a 16 month sentence for bribery.

After being found guilty by a jury last month, he was yesterday given a two-year suspended sentence, two-year supervision order and 300 hours unpaid work order for his part in the conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Judge Ticehurst said: "You are a naive young man, but one who still has the potential to change and one who still has the opportunity to make a positive contribution to society."

The court heard how a 14-year-old boy from East Sussex, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was sent down to Bridgwater and exploited by the gang as a runner; making drops of drugs and picking up money which he deposited into Tran-West’s bank account.

Judge Ticehurst heard how he had made strides to turn his life around and sentenced him to a two-year conditional discharge for his two conspiracy offences.

Another offender who can’t be named is a 17-year-old girl from London who was tried alongside Boateng for the same conspiracy offence.

She was given a 12-month youth supervision order, with six months of those under intense observation.

Judge Ticehurst told the two young offenders that everyone deserved to be given a second chance and that this was theirs.

Bridgwater drug dealer Wayne Clist, 40, of Wellington Road, was given a two-year community order after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A dugs, with an accompanying drug rehabilitation order which will oblige him to be tested twice weekly.

His partner Gemma Duddridge, 33 will be sentenced on March 27, along with Faith Jones-Alli, 18, from Gravesend.

Lancashire pair Gail Talbot, 45, and Kevin Melody, 43, will be sentenced at a later date after failing to attend yesterday.

Jones-Alli pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge, the others pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Orders have also been made to confiscate the proceeds of crime from Boateng and Tran-West.

Boateng has assets of about £1,130, which he must pay within 28 days, and Tran-West must pay £1,005.

Police calculated that Boateng had benefitted by £9,360 for his part in the conspiracy, and Tran-West by £72,709, but neither has the assets to cover the full amount of their criminal gains.

At the conclusion of Thursday’s hearing, Judge Ticehurst praised the Avon and Somerset Police officers, Crown Prosecution Service and others involved in bringing the conspirators to justice.

Det Sgt Paul Lanigan said: “Thursday’s sentencing marks the culmination of more than 18 months of dedicated police work to tackle the illegal supply of class A drugs in our communities.

“The seven people sentenced here and those to be sentenced next month have made money out of other people’s misery in the Taunton and Bridgwater areas.

“This investigation identified that both local individuals and national organised crime groups were monopolising the illegal drug markets in Taunton and Bridgwater.

“Between 2013 and 2014 we identified a total of 50 offenders who were committing offences of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and conspiracy to money launder.

“In particular, we identified an organised crime group based in south London, who were exploiting young white and black youths, together with vulnerable adults to supply class A drugs within the local rural towns of Avon and Somerset.

“This operation has removed key players at all levels of this Organised Crime Group - from street dealers, drug runners and the organisers.

“In terms of the money laundering offences, we also unearthed links to a professional footballer.

“Arrests and search warrants recovered in excess of £33,000 worth of class A drugs, together with a substantial amount of laundered cash.

“The 10 offenders in this group brings the total number of offenders brought to justice as a result of this operation to 36.

“I would like to thank our partner agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Crime Agency (NCA) for their support throughout this investigation.

“I hope this sends out a strong message to anyone who is involved with or considering getting involved in the illegal supply of drugs. We will robustly investigate any reports regarding the illegal supply of drugs and those involved will be caught, arrested and face justice.”

Somerset West Chief Inspector Paul Mogg added: “As a result of this investigation, we have removed the availability and supply of class A drugs in our community.

“Our communities have asked us to set tackling drug crime as one of our priorities – we have listened and will take robust action wherever and whenever possible.

“Drug use brings with it associated anti-social behaviour and other types of crime, particularly theft, to help fund what can be expensive and consuming drug habits.

“Put simply; we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, which impacts negatively on the majority within our communities who are law-abiding and not involved in drug use or supply.

“I would urge local people to keep coming to us with information, we do listen and we do take action.

“I would like to say thank you to our partner agencies, including Taunton Deane Borough Council’s Housing Department, who are supporting us with operations such as this.

“If you deal or use drugs, commit crime or are anti-social not only might you get a knock on the door from the local policing team but you might end up losing your home.”

If you have information regarding any suspected crime you can report it to police by calling 101.

You can also visit avonandsomerset.police.uk and report it electronically.

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

They don’t ask your name or trace your call.