A MAJOR player in one of the biggest ever drug operations in Dorset was jailed for nine-and-a-half years on Tuesday.

George Clarke, 54, of The Grove, Christchurch, was caught under Operation Salamander, a nine-month under-cover police initiative which led to the seizure of cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis worth more than £350,000.

Drug dealing was centred around a rented home in Rimbury Way, Christchurch, occupied by 42-year-old Gary Sly and his partner, former pole dancer Colleen Travers, 25.

Sly, now of Fawley Road, Regents Park, Southampton, was jailed last year for 13 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and nine years for conspiracy to supply Class B/C drugs, to run concurrently.

Colleen Travers, who pleaded guilty to similar offences, was jailed for seven years and five years concurrent.

Others involved in the drugs ring included Brian Rogers, 38, of Ringwood Road, Poole, jailed for nine years, Paul Clarke, 29, of West Norwood, London, jailed for 11 years and Dean Vincent, of Springfields, Three Legged Cross, jailed for 13 years.

At Tuesday's hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court Clarke pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and to conspiracy to supply Class B/C drugs between October 20, 2003 and March 17, 2004.

The court heard that Clarke, who would "act as a broker between other top end dealers", was the person responsible for making contacts with drug dealers abroad and for importing from abroad.

Police had bugged the house in Rimbury Way, Christchurch, which revealed that there were "three main players" - Sly, Vincent and Clarke.

Defending, Andrew Hill told Judge Roger Jarvis that prison would have a worse effect on Clarke than most because he is suffering from a serious liver condition and needs a transplant.

He added that Clarke pleaded guilty to the offences at an early opportunity.

Clarke was previously jailed for four years at Croydon Crown Court for conspiracy to supply a controlled drug.

Judge Jarvis said: "This was a very serious conspiracy case. I recall remarking it was one of the most serious that had ever been heard before in the county of Dorset.

"You were very heavily involved in my judgement."

Judge Jarvis rejected Clarke's illness as a mitigating feature for a reduction in sentence, adding: "It seems to me that the management of your illness is now a matter for the prison and the Home Office".

A confiscation hearing will take place next year at Bournemouth Crown Court.