Eight men have been jailed today for a total of nearly 49 years for their part in a major drug supply conspiracy involving Norfolk and Suffolk led by a Norwich man whose lieutenants were from Lowestoft.

Johnathan McKenna, of Norwich Road, was said to be the kingpin of the organised crime ring involving class A drugs

McKenna, 26, formally of Liverpool, was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine.

His lieutenants Michael Kynaston, 30, of Edgerton Road, Lowestoft, and Steven Jackson, 45, of Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft, received jail terms of eight and ten years respectively.

The couriers who brought large amounts of cocaine down to Suffolk and Norfolk from Liverpool by road and rail, were also jailed,

Andrew Roberts, 30, of Keats Avenue, Wigan, and Wesley Gale, 27, of Higher Ince, Wigan, were given four years and four months in prison.

Laurence Neve, 50, of Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft, received four years and two months, while Stephen Palmer, 45, of Denmark Road, Lowestoft, received five years imprisonment.

Henry Brown of Woodlands Way, Ipswich, was jailed for two years for his role as a courier.

All previously admitted the same conspiracy to supply Class A drug charge over a nine-month period which ended in June last year.

McKenna's girlfriend Caroline Murphy, 22, of Liverpool, received a 12-month suspended sentence and 240 hours community service for money laundering.

Jackson's partner Yvonne Horsley, a 44-year-old of Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft received an eight month suspended sentence and 80 hours of community service for money laundering and supply of Class B drugs.

Marie Darwin, 50, of Melverley Road, Liverpool received a 30-week suspended sentence for permitting her house to be used for the supply of cocaine.

After their sentencings Det Insp Bernie Morgan, who led the police operation, said: 'This result follows a long and detailed investigation into the passage of drugs into the county and their subsequent distribution once here.

'I would like to thank Merseyside and Norfolk Constabularies for their support and to pay particular credit to my officers who put a great deal of work into gaining this result.

'Suffolk Constabulary is committed to tackling organised crime and will continue to actively pursue anyone who thinks that they can bring drugs into the county