A BIDFORD man and other members of gang who supplied £300,000 worth of drugs to the streets of Kidderminster and Stratford-upon-Avon have been jailed for more than 70 years combined. 

A total of 21 people from the Wolverhampton-based group were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on Friday, February 10 following an investigation into the organised supply of crack cocaine and heroin. 

Peter John Goodwin, aged 44, of Bidford-on-Avon, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Police chiefs said the convictions were the result of a complex investigation named Operation Southall which lasted 18 months.

The drugs were supplied between September 2013 and December 2014.

Detective Chief Inspector Ally Wright said: "An organised crime group from Wolverhampton saw an opportunity to make money by supplying crack cocaine and heroin in Stratford-upon-Avon and Kidderminster.

"It displaced established dealers and gained a foothold in order to corner the illegal drugs market in the towns. Local drug users were then recruited to facilitate the supply of the drugs."

Temporary Detective Sergeant Kris Shore, leading officer in the case, added: "We will work tirelessly to disrupt the workings of organised crime groups and make sure that those involved in illegal activity are put before the courts and made to pay for their ill-gotten gains.

"This was a highly motivated and organised scheme to pedal misery for gain. They were sophisticated in their operation using various means to bring drugs into Stratford and Kidderminster, including the use of the rail network and rotating couriers,that they thought would keep the police from their doors.

"I hope that the sentencing handed out by the courts at the culmination of Operation Southall sends out a clear message that the supply of drugs will not be tolerated.

"It is our priority to protect people from harm and bring offenders to justice and tackling illegal drug use significantly helps us to achieve this."

A series of early morning warrants were executed across Wolverhampton and Stratford-upon-Avon in June 2015 as part of the arrest phase of Operation Southall, which involved working closely with West Midlands Police.

Commencing in November 2013, the investigation uncovered the workings of an organised crime group which was coordinating the supply of the Class A drugs across county borders.