GANG members involved in a major drugs operation in Wisbech have been sentenced to more than 24 years in jail. Five remaining members were due to be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court last Thursday, but the case was adjourned to a later date. So far, 12 p

GANG members involved in a major drugs operation in Wisbech have been sentenced to more than 24 years in jail.

Five remaining members were due to be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court last Thursday, but the case was adjourned to a later date.

So far, 12 people have received a range of sentences after they were arrested following a police operation last year.

The men and women, who all come from the Wisbech area, were arrested as a result of Operation Usk, which involved more than 250 police officers from six forces.

The operation, led by Cambridgeshire police, was a crackdown on people involved with class A drugs.

Neighbouring forces from Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Essex and Hertfordshire were also involved in the raids last August.

Last night, Det Insp Ian Simmons said: "I am delighted with this result, as I believe the people of Wisbech will be. The illegal activities of this group blighted the lives of the local community, not only through drug dealing, but also its links to low-level crime in and around the town.

"We want to improve the lives of people living in and visiting Wisbech by making it a safer place.

"Through tackling the supply of class A drugs we can make a significant impact on this."

He added: "We will continue to conduct high-profile investigations such as these and I hope that the sentences act as a warning to others."

Those sentenced so far include:

Robin Fisher, 52, (bottom row, second from right) of York Terrace - jailed for four years for two counts of supplying class A drugs to another and one count of possessing a controlled drug of class C;

Joanna Hall, 42, (pictured top row, second from left) of York Terrace - three and a half years for two counts of supplying class A drugs to another and one count of possessing a controlled drug of class C;

Alex Wallis, 29, (pictured top left) of St Michael's Avenue - four and a half years for six counts of supplying a controlled drug of class A to another.

Others sentenced include:

- Steven Lonsbrough, 31, (pictured top row, second from right) of Lime Tree, Sutton Bridge - three years;

- Glenn Hague, 46, of Edinburgh Drive - 18-month suspended sentence;

- Luke Elfleet, 22, (pictured bottom left) of Mill Close - three years;

- Damien Hearn, 30, (pictured top right) (arrested in prison) - two years;

- Paul Chapman, 29, of Norwich Road - 18 months suspended;

- Nicola Christie, 30, of Leafere Way - 18 months suspended;

- Victoria Magee, 20, of Church Meadows - nine months suspended;

- Carl Blunden, 35, (pictured bottom row, second from left) of Norwich Road - 18 months;

- Patrick Crerand, 34, (pictured bottom right) of Ramnoth Road - three years.

The gang were handed sentences for a range of drug-related offences.

The remaining five - Patrick Lee, 57, of York Road; Daniel Cranfield, 24, of Milner Road; Paul Gorman, 36, of West Parade; Marc Jackson, 42, of Milner Road; and Timothy Grosspietzsch, of Albert Close - will be sentenced at a later date.