FIVE people from north Cumbria - including two from Carlisle and one from Wigton - have admitted being part of a huge plot to supply the class A drugs heroin and cocaine.

They were among nine people who appeared before a judge at the city’s crown court.

All have been prosecuted after a major Cumbria police operation into a “county lines” drugs operation, which detectives allege has involved as many as 14 people, said to be working with Liverpool drugs criminals.

In court yesterday, nine defendants who were put before Judge Peter Davies admitted being part of the plot.

The charge, put by the clerk, was as follows: that they conspired with a named person, who has yet to be arrested, and others to supply class A drugs to another between June 1, 2018, and November 23 last year.

The following defendants entered guilty pleas:

Joseph Graham, 40, of Borrowdale Gardens, Carlisle; Connor White, 22, of Eldon Drive, Harraby, Carlisle; Christopher Cooke, 39, of Gelt Road, Brampton; Bradley Hickman, 35, of Highfield Court, Wigton; Michael Mandale, of Cragside, Penrith; Dylan Yates, 25, of Brooke Croft, Liverpool; Christopher Westwell, 25, of Round Hey, Liverpool; Thomas Wright, 24, of Harefield Road, Liverpool; and Roy Hickman, 34, of Church Devon Road, Liverpool.

Two defendants denied the conspiracy and will face a trial in April.

Four more defendants allegedly involved - three from the Carlisle area - will enter their pleas on Monday.

Judge Peter Davies told the defendants who admitted the conspiracy they will be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial of the two men who deny the conspiracy. All those who admitted the charge were remanded in custody. The value of the conspiracy has not yet been revealed.