A man and woman who were running a drug dealing operation in a Suffolk town have been given jail terms totalling six years.

Dean Francis and Jane Huchison were arrested after police carried out surveillance at their homes during an operation targeting the supply of class A drugs in Lowestoft, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Jane Oldfield, prosecuting, said that known class A drug users were seen going to the homes of both defendants and leaving soon after during the surveillance operation.

Francis and Huchison were also seen leaving their addresses on foot and returning shortly afterwards after meeting known drug users.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dean Francis was jailed at Ipswich Crown CourtDean Francis was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Suffolk police)

Francis, 44, of Jenkins Green, Lowestoft and Huchison, 39, of Briarwood Road, Lowestoft, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin over a ten week period between January and April 2021.

Huchison also admitted two offences of possession of heroin with intent to supply, possession of a small amount of cannabis and absconding while on bail.

Francis also admitted two offences of possessing heroin and absconding while on bail.

Jailing them each for three years, Judge Martin Levett described their drug dealing as “a relatively well-oiled operation”.

Andrew Thompson, for Huchison, said his client had been addicted to heroin and was involved in the supply of the drug to pay for her habit.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jane Huchison was also jailed in IpswichJane Huchison was also jailed in Ipswich (Image: Suffolk police)

She was now clean of drugs and had had completed a number of courses since she’d been remanded in custody and was keen to turn her life round when she was released.

He said the drug dealing she was involved with was a relatively unsophisticated operation and wasn’t connected to any county lines operations.

Steven Dyble, for Francis, said his client had spent some time in custody and there were no trappings of wealth in his or Huchison’s homes.

“These are two people with a chronic heroin addictions resorting to selling to people they knew in their circle to fund their own use of the drug,” he said.