Mark Anderson is the last of 12 defendants to be sentenced after a Durham Police crackdown on heroin dealers in the Seaham and surrounding areas.

Seven men and a woman have been jailed for a total of 24 years and 10 months by Judge Christopher Prince.

Durham Crown Court heard Anderson allowed ringleader Robert Bate to use his house for dealing, and also dealt himself.

Most of the evidence against the dealers was gathered by a police undercover officer who called himself "Watto" during Operation Nimrod.

So good was his cover, Anderson joked about him being a policeman as he sold him heroin.

"The officer was also pat searched by Anderson before he would deal with him,'' added prosecutor Michael Graham.

"In June of 2008, Anderson supplied the undercover officer with heroin on three occasions.

"The centre of the dealing operation was Anderson's house in The Avenue, Seaham.

"Numerous deals were done from that property, and several people operated as drugs runners from it."

Anderson, 34, formerly of The Avenue, Deneside, now of Blandford Place, both Seaham, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in July, 2008.

He has previous convictions for drugs possession, offences involving dishonesty, and vehicle crime.
Bob Spragg, defending, said: "Mr Anderson left this house at the end of July in a bid to distance himself from the dealing.
"There is no suggestion he has carried out any crime since then, and he has taken strides to put his life in order.

"He has passed his driving test, is doing voluntary work at the Red Cross shop and has part-time paid work in a restaurant.
''His partner is expecting his child, and while he could not complain if he was sent to prison today, a custodial sentence would undo much of the progress he has made.''
Judge Prince jailed Anderson for two years.
Anderson shouted abuse as he was led from the dock to begin his sentence.