THREE man have been jailed at Worcester Crown Court for running a drugs ring in Redditch.

Lee Wilkins, 50, of Station Road in Studley, and Matthew Armitage, 43, of Ombersley Close in Redditch, were jailed last week.

The pair were described by Recorder Roger Evans as the "foot soldiers" carrying out the street selling.

Wilkins, who was convicted after a trial, was jailed for three and a half years.

Armitage, who pleaded guilty, received two years.

The court heard that the drugs ring was run by 31-year-old Martin Trowman, who was said to be considering setting up a similar organisation in Bromsgrove.

He was sentenced to seven years.

Trowman, of Bittell Close, Rubery, was said to have been given a five-year sentence in 2004 for conspiracy to rob.

He was also convicted after a trial of the Redditch conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Prosecutor Michael Conry said police began making arrests after Armitage was spotted making a street transaction in June, 2013.

It was found that he and Trowman had made 456 text messages to each other to arrange supplies.

Wilkins had also been in telephone contact with Trowman.

Detectives found £390 proceeds of one day's dealing and the Recorder ordered this should be confiscated.

The conspiracy was said to have lasted for two months, in 2013, but the court heard it was impossible to estimate how much had been made.

Justin Hugheston-Roberts, for Trowman, urged the Recorder not to make a wild guess about the possible proceeds.

Although Trowman had a history of peddling drugs, he had no trappings of wealth.

This was also argued by Mark Sharman, on behalf of Wilkins, who had a break-down in custody and had resolved to stay clear of drugs.

Diljit Bachada, for Armitage, said he had been a heroin addict but did not have a lavish lifestyle.