A Portishead drug dealer will spend Christmas in prison after admitting pumping more than £500,000 worth of cocaine and heroin into the South West.

Aaron Smith was jailed for eight years on December 15 after leading a drug gang.

The 31-year-old was a ‘key player’ in the operation according to Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Smith, of Guillemot Road, – along with 32-year-old James Price from Bristol and 38-year-old Richard Davis from Oldham – was arrested following a lengthy police investigation.

He co-ordinated collection, storage and movement of drugs, Bristol Crown Court was told on December 15.

Detectives caught several of Smith’s lieutenants couriering cash, including one haul of £60,000, and he recruited Price to fill the void.

In June the pair arranged for Davis to drive cocaine and heroin from Manchester, with the plan to store it at Price’s home in Shirehampton.

A police raid uncovered 1kg of heroin and a similar amount of cocaine. Estimates suggest the hauls were worth £200,000 and £350,000 respectively.

Smith and Price both pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to supply a Class A drug, with the latter being jailed for four years and eight months. Davis was sentenced to five years and eight months behind bars after admitting the same counts, plus a third of possession with intent to supply.

Chief Inspector Tina Robinson said: “The result should hopefully send alarm bells ringing with anyone who thinks it pays to be involved in the supply of drugs.

“Smith thought he was able to avoid justice by putting distance between himself and the drugs but he was wrong.

“His sentence reflects the fact he played a leading role in bringing cocaine and heroin into our communities and the courts take this type of offence extremely seriously.”