OPERATION Werewolf has smashed another drug-dealing ring in Warrington.

Five more heroin suppliers are behind bars this week as part of the one of the town's most successful blitzes on people who trade in the drug.

The punishments have been commended by officers from Warrington Police's drugs squad, who have vowed that the drugbusting initiative will continue to wage battle on the scourge of heroin.

But Judge David Hale was sure that the crimes exposed by police did not tell the whole story.

The judge sentenced the dealers to prison and youth custody sentences totalling more than 13 years when they appeared at Warrington Crown Court last Friday.

And he added: "I am sure that this is the tip of the iceberg but I am only allowed to sentence you on the basis of what is has been proved you have done.

The five dealers are Craig Redfern, aged 33, of Tolbar Road, brothers Peter, aged and Dale O'Brien, aged 21, both of Howson Road, 44-year-old Peter Sheath, of Locker Avenue and James Jackson, aged 28, who lived in Sinclair Avenue.

Each confessed to various charges of supplying heroin to drug addicts and plain-clothes officers during the investigation, which took place between late August and early December last year.

Prosecutor Owen Edward told the court that undercover police officers who infiltrated a web of heroin dealers in Longford and Orford were given the advice to "Ask for Peggy".

The fictitious name was the codeword detectives were told to use by dealer Peter Sheath when ringing a mobile phone to barter for drugs.

Using this method, police rang the number provided, asked for "Peggy" and bought three bags of heroin for £30 from Sheath.

But fellow drug dealer Peter O'Brien was the first to fall into the net, the court heard, as he approached officers in Sandy Lane.

He told them he had "grafters" in the area who could obtain drugs for the pair and took them to his brother Dale's flat.

Once there, he handed over seven small plastic bags containing heroin in exchange for cash. Both brothers were seen smoking heroin.

Co-ordinated raids on the defendants' homes resulted in the arrests of all five and various drug-related items were seized by officers.

The court heard that each had made relatively good progress in addressing their drugs problems while on remand.

Andrew Downie, for Dale O'Brien, said the 21-year-old's position was a little different from his co-accused as he only made a phone call on behalf of his brother Peter to arrange a drug deal.

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