DEALERS; Nine hard drugs racketeers face.

MOHAMMED KHAN pleaded guilty to 24 counts of supplying both class A and class C drugs.

He became embroiled in the operation between August and October 2007 and was selling substances to fund his own habit.

Of the 13 class A offences, 11 related to the supply of cocaine, while the class C crimes were linked to cannabis.

The 27-year-old was snared by undercover officers. Khan, of Silver Lonnen, Newcastle, was given three years and a 15 month concurrent sentence.

GEORGE McGINLEY was sentenced for two theft offences, in which he befriended a vulnerable pensioner in Newcastle's West End.

The 27-year-old, of Prospect Place, Newcastle, got two years for supply of class A drugs, having sold substances to test purchase officers.

For the theft and deception offences, he got 12 months and the latest crimes activated a six-month suspended prison sentence. All to run consecutively. He was locked up for threeand- a-half years in total.

ROBERT SMITH was eligible to attract a minimum jail term of seven years for drug supply due to his long list of previous convictions.

He twice served sentences for heroin dealing.

He also has convictions for dishonesty, witness intimidation and violence.

The 31-year-old, of Dunblane Crescent, Newcastle, admitted supplying heroin and due to his guilty plea, the seven year minimum term was reduced by 205 to five years seven months.

DEAN PRENDERGAST is 28 and also has previous convictions including possession of class B drugs, burglary, robbery and criminal damage.

He became a heroin addict while in prison on a previous occasion. He agreed to carry out deals for payment in cash or drugs to feed his own habit.

Prendergast was caught supplying an undercover officer on four occasions.

Prendergast, of Hoyle Avenue, Newcastle, was sentenced to two-and-ahalf years for the supply of class A drugs.

LORAINE McGINLEY played the role of assistant to Robert Smith. The 31-year-old acted as look-out as other members of the gang supplied drugs to undercover officers.

But on other occasions, she was present when deals took place.

The court heard she became hooked on heroin at an early age and agreed to carry out bit-part roles to earn cash and drugs to feed her habit.

She pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying class A drugs and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years.

ANTONIO GREGORIO, 42, a long-term heroin user, was jailed for 12 months for a cigarette smuggling scam in May 2006.

While inside, he became hooked again and on his release reestablished his underworld connections, in particular Nigel Abadom.

Gregorio, of Beech Grove Road, Newcastle, was sentenced to three years for supply of class A drugs and six months for offences of possession of class A drugs and possession of ammunition, to run consecutivel y.

RASID FAZALAHMAD GULAB, 28, of Strathmore Crescent, Newcastle, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for his part in the drugs ring.

He admitted five counts of supplying Class A drugs, which related to heroin and cocaine.

SHERNE HENRY, 24, of Strathmore Crescent, Newcastle, also used the alias Crisann Bentley.

Henry was jailed for 20 months.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying Class A drugs and one of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

OLIVER WHYTE was the ringleader of gang that dealt mainly in crack cocaine.

His network of dealers peddled the poison from terraced houses in the West End of Newcastle, including Benwell and streets off the West Road.

The 31-year-old, of Strathmore Crescent, admitted 10 counts of supplying cocaine and diamorphine and was jailed for fourand- a-half years.

"This has been part of our ongoing work to rid the streets of the scourge of drugs and ensure Newcastle remains a safe and secure place for everyone to live

CAPTION(S):

MOHAMMED KHAN; GEORGE McGINLEY; ROBERT SMITH; DEAN PRENDERGAST; LORAINE McGINLEY; ANTONIO GREGORIO; RASID FAZALAHMAD GULAB; SHERNE HENRY; OLIVER WHYTE