A PAIR of drug dealers, who police say were the ringleaders in a gang that peddled heroin and crack cocaine, have both been jailed for six years.

Streby Margai, 22, and Shawn Grant, 21, were operating a commercial enterprise storing, cutting and selling the hard drugs on the streets of Swindon.

And they also recruited teenager Adam Woods, who is now 19-years-old and received a two-year jail term, to help them ply their illicit trade across town.

Chris Quinlan, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the three were arrested on a number of occasions as the net closed on their dealing.

Even after they were arrested and charged with dealing drugs Margai, known by the street name Dwayne, and Grant continued to sell heroin and crack on the streets.

Mr Quinlan said the police had targeted the two men after finding Margai was a major player in selling class A drugs.

He said they were stopped and searched on a number of occasions and found to have heroin and crack on them as well as being subject to covert surveillance.

Margai and Grant were seen supplying a user in Queens Park and when he was spoken to, he told police Dwayne had been his dealer for about four years.

Margai, of Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London, but also living at Davis House, on Turl Street, Swindon; Grant, of Walter Close, The Prinnels, Swindon, and Woods of Gable Close, Abbey Meads, all admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of drugs. Margai and Grant also admitted other charges of possessing cannabis.

Woods admitted his guilt on the basis he had been involved for three weeks in October 2005 while the other two dealt from October 1, 2005 through to April 29 last year.

David Emanuel, for Margai, said his client had a partner and young child and regretted what he had done. "He has genuine regret for his behaviour," he said.

Chris Smyth, for Grant, said his client was a user of drugs and so was involved in selling them to support his addiction.

Jailing them Judge Douglas Field said: "In my view the Crown are entirely right in describing this period of seven months as involving commercial dealing of two very dangerous drugs namely crack cocaine and heroin.

"That dealing was done for the simple purpose of making a living."

He added "As far as Margai and Grant are concerned I regard this as extremely serious and it is going to be met with a substantial period of imprisonment."