Wayne Phillips, left, and Oliver Coates have been jailed

by Keith Hunt

Three men have been jailed for their part in the supply of large amounts of cocaine in Medway.

Oliver Coates, 40, Wayne Phillips, 41, and Michael Allen, 40, were caught in an operation in which an undercover police officer was dealt a total of nine ounces of the drug worth £8,740.

Coates, who played a leading role, was jailed for six years. Phillips, described as a runner, was sentenced to three years and two months and Allen to 20 months.

Coates, of Sundridge Hill, Cuxton; Phillips, of Somerset Close, Chatham; and Allen, of Mayweed Avenue, Chatham; admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Allen also admitted possessing cannabis.

Coates had been recalled to prison to serve the remainder of a seven-year sentence imposed in February 2007 for supplying drugs.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting, said the trio were arrested as part of Operation Greengrass, aimed at clamping down on Class A drug dealers in the Medway towns.

The trio were jailed at Maidstone Crown Court

The offences involved nine separate supplies to the officer of between almost seven grams and 126 grams of cocaine with a purity of between 14 and 26%.

The officer was at first dealt small amounts of the drug and he then handed over £950 for an ounce after Phillips cycled from a caravan site in Cuxton.

Coates would turn up in a Land Rover.

Judge Michael Carroll said the only way to deter others from dealing drugs was to pass deterrent sentences. It was street dealing at the top of the scale, he added.

"It is not to deter the person caught, because it is too late then," he said. "There can be little doubt you, Oliver Coates, are the most heavily involved. Your role was nearer leading than significant.

"You, Wayne Phillips, played a significant role. You, Michael Allen had a lesser role, but once you assumed that role it was with some enthusiasm."

He added: "It is the families who are left behind who suffer the most, but I am afraid that goes with the territory."