Two men have been jailed for over eight years in total for drug offences in Newmarket.

East Anglian Daily Times: Vinnie Whittred was jailed at Ipswich Crown CourtVinnie Whittred was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Police conducted two warrants in the west Suffolk town on Tuesday, November 8 last year.

One was carried out in Bill Rickaby Drive where mobile phones, a quantity of cash, paraphernalia associated with drug supply and a samurai sword were recovered.

The second warrant was conducted in Willow Crescent.

Police enquiries established that a seized mobile phone was being used to send out bulk text messages advertising class A drugs available in the Newmarket area.

Further investigations established that the Sorren Price and Vinnie Whittred were strongly suspected to be the controllers of this mobile number.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sorren Price was jailed at Ipswich Crown CourtSorren Price was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Suffolk police)

Price, 21, of Bill Rickaby Drive, Newmarket, was sentenced to five years and seven months at Ipswich Crown Court after he admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

Whittred, 19, of Willow Crescent, Newmarket, was jailed for 24 months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

He was also given a 39 month jail sentence for being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

Whittred's sentences will run concurrently.

DI Greg Moore, of the Serious Crime Disruption Team at Suffolk police, said: “It is very pleasing to see that two people who have been involved in bringing such misery to our streets will now be locked up for a considerable time.

"These individuals have caused much concern for some time with their callous exploitation of young people and this (sentencing) has made the Newmarket area a much safer place in terms of drug dealing.

“The action taken by us are a good example of how the force is ensuring the county remains a hostile environment for those involved in the supply of drugs.

"It will hopefully provide reassurance to Suffolk residents that we will continue to pursue, disrupt and arrest those people.

"We will continue to listen to concerns of residents and our commitment to tackle class A drug dealing in the county remains strong.”