THREE Bury men and a woman are among a gang of nine drug dealers handed lengthy jail sentences.

The four were part of a multi-million pound international drugs empire that was eventually derailed by police.

The kingpin was Rossendale man John Clarke, who enjoyed all the trappings of an international millionaire lifestyle from peddling Class A drugs.

Once police were on to him, the 36 year old fled in a Bentley Continental and ended up in Tenerife before being arrested in Morroco in June.

Clarke, of Waterfoot, was today at Bolton Crown Court jailed for 25 years after admitting money laundering and drugs offences.

Eight others under Clarke’s command were jailed at various points over the last year.

They were: Malcolm Tidyman, aged 35, of Tunstall Close, Gigg, admitted money laundering and conspiracy to supply class A, B and C drugs and was jailed for 16 years.

David Green, aged 46, of Derby Court, Seedfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs and was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months.

Brian Fletcher, aged 43, of Denton Street, Bury, was convicted of conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs following a trial and jailed for 16 years.

Melanie Humphries, aged 42, of Orchid Drive, Gigg, was convicted of conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs following a trial and jailed for nine years.

Other members of the gang came from Lancashire, Scotland and even Belgium.

Andrew Hodson, aged 42, of Marsh House Lane, Darwen, admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was jailed for nine years.

Philippe De-Gest, aged 31, of Belgium, admitted importing 25kg of cocaine and was sentenced to 11 years.

Phillip Randles, aged 50, of Brandearth Hey, Liverpool, admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply and was jailed for seven years.

James Hawthorn, aged 37, of West Whitby Street, Glasgow, admitted possession of 50kg of amphetamine – a class B drug - and was jailed for four years.

The gang was mainly based in Bury and run by Clark from his luxury properties in Spain and elsewhere in Europe.

The empire stretched through England and Scotland and involved importing cocaine, heroin and amphetamine from Continental Europe in large amounts.

Detective Inspector Lee Griffin, of GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group, said: "Clark sat at the head of a sophisticated, well-connected network of drugs dealers, the tentacles of which reached across the UK and into mainland Europe.

"Most of the gang enjoyed the trappings of wealth that most hard-working people can only imagine, but they would have known from the start that even the biggest empires can crumble.

"I hope today's result, which is the culmination of excellent joint working between ourselves and the NCA, sends out a significant message to anyone involved in supplying drugs. No matter how sophisticated you think you are, justice will always catch up with you in the end."

Superintendent Karan Lee, based at Bury, said: "On behalf of the communities and partnerships in Bury, I applaud today's judgement.

"We will continue to work together to eradicate organised crime groups and rid our town of those that wish to benefit from preying on decent and law abiding citizens."