A FORMER East Anglian DJ was sent to jail yesterday for drug dealing after he supplied crack cocaine and heroin to two undercover policewomen.Erroll Lee, of Bromley Close, Clacton, known to listeners as Buster Brooker, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for each of three offences of supplying drugs in Colchester, all of which he admitted.

By Juliette Maxam

A FORMER East Anglian DJ was sent to jail yesterday for drug dealing after he supplied crack cocaine and heroin to two undercover policewomen.

Erroll Lee, of Bromley Close, Clacton, known to listeners as Buster Brooker, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for each of three offences of supplying drugs in Colchester, all of which he admitted. The sentences will run concurrently.

Lee, 45, who previously worked for Radio Orwell and Vibe FM, was part of a drugs ring operating from Alyssum Way, in Colchester, which was smashed by undercover police in Operation Tralee two years ago.

Lee's barrister, Rupert Overbury, said Lee was driven to drugs after his father died which he compared to having both legs cut off.

"He had an extremely good job at the time, working for network stations and before that Radio One, driving an extremely nice car, living in a very nice home.

"When his father died he went to pieces. He was introduced to crack cocaine by those who deal in it and he was instantly hooked. He became involved with those people to such an extent that he allowed them to stay at his house in return for more crack cocaine and allowed them to use his car."

He added: "He accepts he has been particularly stupid in following a drug driven life."

Judge Gareth Davies told Lee: "You have gone quickly from a good standard of life to this rather desperate situation you are in now."

Addressing all of the defendants before him for sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Davies said: "You've all been involved in the supply of Class A drugs at different times in different ways. You were providing a source of drugs easily available on request by these undercover officers.

"As in so many areas the sale of hard drugs is becoming an increasing problem in areas covered by the court, leading to misery and degradation."

Clifford Groves, 25, of Rosemary Avenue, Clacton, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for each of five counts of supplying heroin and cocaine to undercover police - all of which he admitted, to run concurrently. He was also given three months for failing to surrender to bail, to run consecutively.

Lionel Small, of Tippett Close, Colchester, was convicted at an earlier hearing at Ipswich Crown Court of one charge of supplying heroin to an undercover police officer. Judge Davies sentenced him to five-and-a-half years in jail for it. He admitted another charge of supplying heroin to an undercover police officer and was sentenced to four years imprisonment for it, to run concurrently.

Derek Archer, 44, of Alyssum Walk, Colchester, was given two-and-a-half years after admitting one charge of supplying heroin to an undercover police officer.

The case of Richard Powell, 30, of no fixed address, who has admitted nine offences of supplying cocaine to undercover police officers, was adjourned for sentencing at a later date.

Two defendants, Courtney Thomas, 21, of no fixed address, and Zadinjez Raphael, 23, of Roseberry Street, Birmingham, failed to turn up at court.

Judge Davies said he would be writing to the Chief Constable recommending the two undercover police women, known as "Alix" and "Sandie" should receive commendations for their part in the operation.

After the case Detective Inspector Roy Clark, from Colchester CID, who led the operation said: "I am delighted with this result. It sends out a clear message to those dealers who prey on vulnerable people's addictions that we will seek them out and bring them to justice.

"We will use every legitimate means at our disposal to arrest and prosecute drug dealers. The use of test purchase officers is one option that we have available to us but a large number of officers have worked on this operation and it has been a good team effort."