Dealer of cocaine and heroin locked up for four years

But, after a two-year stint supplying cocaine and heroin, Howard Williamson and his helpers have met the strong arm of the law.

The 42-year-old dad-of-one, who was deported from the USA many years ago for dealing cocaine, was sentenced to four years in jail at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Recorder Stephen Climie said: ‘The supply of Class A drugs, not just in Hampshire but nationwide, is ruining lives on a daily basis.’

The court heard Williamson teamed up with two former girlfriends to supply the drugs between October 2012 and June 2014.

Frances Gallagher stored the haul of drugs at her home in Southampton and would drive Williamson to locations across Havant.

Some £50,000 was deposited in Williamson’s bank account, while £20,000 was put in the bank account of another former partner, Stacy-Ann March.

Meanwhile, 45-year-old addict Andrew Griffiths helped supply the drugs earlier this year to fund his habit – amassing around £1,300 from the crimes.

Hannah Smith, defending Williamson, said: ‘It was financially motivated but not to the extent he was living the high life.

‘He was leading a comfortable life.

‘What he has done has brought people he cares about into the criminal justice system.’

Williamson, of Monument Gardens, Lewisham, London, who pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, was jailed for four years.

Recorder Climie said Gallagher should have ‘appreciated as a mother’ the misery drugs cause to society.

But he said Gallagher, 44, of Tunstall Road, Southampton, and Griffiths, of Northney Road, Hayling Island, appeared to show ‘genuine regrets’.

He sentenced them to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Recorder Climie added: ‘If we meet again, you will be joining Williamson – I guarantee you that.’

March, of Frinsted Road, Erith, Kent, was given 100 hours of community service at a previous hearing.

Detective Sergeant Simon Clacey, from Hampshire police, said: ‘These convictions are the result of an investigation which began early last year into a drugs supply network in Havant.

‘We will continue to target people involved in this type of activity as part of Fortress to make Havant a hostile place for drug dealers and those who bring drug-related violence into the area.’