More drug dealers have been taken off the streets of Weston-super-Mare after 11 people were sentenced for their involvement in a drug supply conspiracy.

The dealers, of Weston, Banwell and Oldmixon, received sentences totalling more than 28 years for their ‘peddling of misery’.

Nine were jailed by His Honour Judge Patrick at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Friday), while one received a suspended sentence and the other was slapped with a community order.

All of the eight men and three women pleaded guilty to the charges.

In his remarks during sentencing, Judge Patrick said: “Class A drugs cause misery to those that use them, their families and the community. They cause further criminality and acquisitive crime.

“If you peddle misery you can expect long prison sentences.”

The 11 who were sentenced after pleading guilty:

• Christopher Sheppard, 26, of Sunnyside Road – five years, plus 12 months for breaching conditions of a previous conviction which will run consecutively.

• Adam Clarke, 36, of White Cross View – six years in prison.

• Duane Long, 28, of Fullens Close – Three years in prison.

• Ashley Cook, 28, of The Bury – 22 months in prison.

• Stuart Clelland, 30, of Westfield Road, Banwell – Three years and fourth months in prison.

• Dean Cowell, 31, of Windemere Avenue - Two years and six months in prison, plus nine months in prison for breaching a suspended sentence which will run consecutively.

• Carl Myers of Westfield Road, Banwell – Two years and six months in prison.

• Laura Sheppard of Bloomfield, Oldmixon – 18 months in prison.

• Patrick Sheppard of Bloomfield, Oldmixon – Two years and six months in prison.

• Eleanor Sheppard, 24, of Perrymead – 12 month community order and 18 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of her community.

• Charlene Miles, 33, of Midford Road – a two-year suspended sentence, 18 hours of unpaid work for the community and a mandatory 30-day rehabilitation requirement.

The sentencing follows an investigation by officers from the Bournville and Oldmixon One Team in 2014.

They found an organised crime network which was involved in the supply of class A and class B drugs.

Sergeant Colin Batchelor, of Bournville One Team, said: “Officers spent 18 months analysing and securing evidence. Through their determination, diligence and professionalism they unearthed an organised drug crime hierarchy responsible for the supply of cocaine and cannabis into local estates.

“They presented a highly-detailed and evidentially solid case and as a result, 11 offenders pleaded guilty to various drug supply offences from possession to conspiracy to supply.

“We were also able to show how significantly particular individuals were involved to ensure they received appropriate sentences.”

“I would like to thank the community of Weston for supplying us with information and playing their part to help stop drug dealing on our streets.

“Residents in the Bournville and Oldmixon areas have told us they don’t want drug dealing on their door step.

“We do listen. We do take action. I hope the sentencing today goes someway to reassure people that the process does work and we will continue to tackle the issues that our communities sight as their priorities.”

For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Mercury on Thursday.