A South Gloucestshire car dealer has admitted allowing his premises to be used as a warehouse for selling Class A drugs.

Martin Hale (60) was jailed for 21 months for his part in a 14-member drugs gang dealing heroin and cocaine.

He is the final gang member to be sentenced following a series of raids in the Kingswood area, last June.

Eleven men and three women were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.

Heroin, cocaine and £7,000 in cash were seized by police in raids on eight properties in the area, the court had been told.

Previously, Hale, of Felton Street, Winsford, Somerset, pleaded guilty to a charge of permitting premises to be used for the supply of controlled drugs.

But Giles Nelson, defending, called for leniency arguing Hale had a lung condition and was the sole carer for his wife, who has a debilitating liver condition.


Judge David Ticehurst, in sentencing Hale, said he had taken into account his guilty plea and the difficulties a prison sentence would cause him.

"But that is one of the consequences of committing offences like this," the judge said.

"In my judgment the least sentence is 21 months' imprisonment and that's what I impose."

Other members of the gang received jail sentences ranges from five years to 18 months. (Source: bbc.co.uk)