Ten people have been jailed for more than 40 years following an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs on the Isle of Sheppey.

Officers from Kent Police's Operation Raptor team spent more than a year investigating the suspected large scale distribution of heroin and cocaine, which had connections to organised crime groups and gangs in Liverpool and covered offences between 2014 and 2017.

Police said the group were responsible for the criminal use of firearms, serious assaults and armed robberies.

Police charged 13 people and yesterday, 10 of them were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

Kane Trayling, 26, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to supply heroin and one charge of conspiracy to supply crack cocaine, conspiracy to produce crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply amphetamine sulphate.

He was sentenced to 10 years. He was already serving time in prison for possession of an offensive weapon in Sheerness.

Khyle Harding, 24, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin and possession of a firearm.

He was sentenced to 10 and a half years.

Lee Magee, 35, of Roberts Road in Basildon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce crack cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

He was sentenced to five years. He was already serving time in jail for burglary offences in Rochester and Gillingham.

Ricky Wigglesworth, 27, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce crack cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin and laundering £11,300.

He was sentenced to five and a half years.

David O’Neil, 37, of Sheppey Way, Iwade, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 140 hours unpaid work and a drug rehabilitation order.

Shane Kent, 30, of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

He was sentenced to five and a half years. He was already serving time in jail for offences in Gravesend and Tonbridge relating to three charges of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

Tallanius Bridgland, 23, of Freemens Way, Deal, pleaded guilty to four offences relating to the possession of crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

He was sentenced to 30 months.

George Wright, 29, of Davie Close, Sheerness, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class B drug.

He was sentenced to four years.

Joanna Gibbs, 32, of Botany Close, Sheerness, admitted two offences of permitting the use of a premises for supplying heroin and cocaine.

She was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years.

Kerry Little, 43, of Marian Avenue, Minster, admitted possessing cocaine. He was sentenced to a fine of £80 and ordered to pay costs of £85.

Luke Mitchell, 33, of Queensway, Sheerness, pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs. He is due to be sentenced on January 16.

Stuart Hopkins, 54, of Wickham Close, Sittingbourne, and Charlotte Levesconte, 26, of Davie Close, Sheerness, were found guilty by a jury after both were charged with conspiring to fraudulently evade a prohibition on the importation of a Class B drug.

Both their sentencings have been adjourned to a date yet to be set.

Five other people who were charged with offences were found not guilty by the jury and released.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Kevin Downard, said: "These sentences represent a significant blow against an organised crime group, which were responsible for the criminal use of firearms, serious assaults and committing robbery with weapons.

"I hope this sends a clear message to those who are involved in the production and supply of illegal substances. We take a zero tolerance approach to these crimes and remain determined to bring as many offenders as possible to justice."

The investigation formed part of Operation Raptor, a county-wide initiative aimed at preventing and disrupting violent crime and the supply of Class A drugs.