EIGHT people have been jailed for a total of 36 years for supplying "life-destroying" substances in a Hampshire town.

One of the gang, Jack Oliveira, 20, of Lambeth, London, was also sentenced for having a cocked and loaded sawn-off shotgun in a public place.

The eight defendants, who were involved in a county lines gang known as the G-Man line, were jailed at Winchester Crown Court in a three-day sentencing that ended today.

They had all pleaded guilty to offences of conspiring to supply heroin and cocaine in Basingstoke.

Prosecutor Mark Ruffell said the gang’s motivation was money - "purely and simply". There was little or no thought given to the consequences of this "terrible trade" and the "resulting havoc it wreaks upon the lives in the grip of addiction".

Following the sentencing, Judge Barnett praised the police officers involved in investigating the complex case.

"He said: "I would like to pay an enormous tribute to the officers who brought this case to justice. This was outstanding work. The sheer scale of this enquiry was just one of the complicating factors."

The judge added: "People who take these drugs ruin their lives. They are life-destroying substances and those who are concerned in supplying them bear the condemnation of society."

Basingstoke’s District Commander, Chief Inspector Karen McManus, added: "This sentencing demonstrates that we will do everything in our power to stop Basingstoke being targeted by violent drugs networks because we know the harm and misery they cause to our communities.

“These sentences demonstrate that those who seek to make money out of plying such an evil trade need to look over their shoulders at all times because we are coming after you.

“Investigations such as this require painstaking work and thanks to the determination, professionalism and persistence of our officers, staff and legal team, this dangerous gang has now been completely dismantled.

“With the community supporting us and being our eyes and ears on the ground, we were able to make these arrests and get some very dangerous people and weapons off our streets."

Three people were sentenced on August 27.

Jeffrey Zani, 20, of Tewkesbury Close, Popley, admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. He was sentenced to seven years and four months in a Young Offenders' Institution for both counts, to run concurrently.

Louis Robinson-Ventour, 20, of Ashmead Road, Feltham, admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. He was sentenced to six years and eight months in a Young Offenders' Institution on both counts to run concurrently.

Matthew Temple, 47, of Mendip Close, Buckskin, Basingstoke, admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. He was sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment for both counts to run concurrently..

Temple further admitted two counts of driving while disqualified and was sentenced to four months imprisonment on both counts, to run concurrently with the original sentence. He was also banned from driving for seven years.

Three people were sentenced today.

Jack Oliveira, 21, of Lambeth, admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Basingstoke. He was sentenced to three years in a Young Offenders' Institution on each count, to run concurrently.

He also admitted possession of the sawn-off shotgun in a public place and was sentenced to five years imprisonment in a Young Offenders' Institution. The sentence will also run concurrently.

Abdirahman Abdi, 21, of Briscoe Close, Hounslow, admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Basingstoke and was sentenced to two years and eight months in a Young Offenders' Institution.

He also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Hounslow and was given a sentence of four years and four months, again to run concurrently.

At an earlier trial, Abdi had denied being in possession of a prohibited weapon in a public place. He was found not guilty by a jury.

Dexta Newman-Parsons, 18, of Quantock Close, Basingstoke, admitted two charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Basingstoke. He was sentenced to 20 months - suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours' Community Payback work. The court heard he was the youngest person arrested as part of the conspiracy. He was 15 when he first got involved in the network.

Two people were sentenced on August 7.

Mohammed Zazai, 20, of Sussex Avenue, Isleworth, was arrested in September of 2019 and the investigating officers discovered that he was running another Class A crack cocaine and heroin drug line in Hounslow.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of being concerned in supplying Class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin between March 1, 2019 and September 2, 2019 in the Hounslow area. He was sentenced to five years in a Young Offenders' Institution.

Zazai further admitted being concerned in the supply of Class B Cannabis between July 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. He was sentenced to two years in a Young Offenders Institution, also to run concurrently.

Ayodeji Ade-Olisaemeka, 20, of Colson Road, Loughton, pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiring to supply Class A drugs, namely heroin and cocaine, in Basingstoke,, Borehamwood at Hertford.

He was sentenced to three years on each count in a Young Offenders' Institution. All counts to run concurrently.