A father and all of his four sons were beginning life behind bars today for "dealing in death".

The Compton drugs dynasty, born on a Brighton council estate, was finally brought down at Hove Crown Court yesterday when three sons were convicted of drug offences.

It was the end of a marathon operation by Sussex Police to bring to justice the biggest family drugs gang in the Brighton area.

Their first success came in 1999 when a fourth son, Ronald Compton junior, 39, of Surrenden Road, Brighton, was sentenced to eight years for possessing heroin and cannabis with intent to supply.

The rest of the male members of the family were finally brought to justice at the end of a two-week trial yesterday.

Ronald Compton senior, a 58-year-old property developer, of The Brow, Woodingdean, Brighton, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking at the start of the trial.

His three sons denied any involvement in the trade but were found guilty.

Stephen Compton, a 38-year-old antiques dealer, of Ashdown Road, Brighton, was convicted of two counts of possessing cash proceeds from drug trafficking.

Robert Compton, a 36-year-old jewellery dealer, of Drove Crescent, Portslade, and Sean Compton, a 28-year-old handyman, of Tongdean Road, Brighton, were convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs.

Ronald senior, Robert and Sean Compton, was being sentenced today and Sean Compton on Monday.

Their mother Margaret, 56, was also charged with trafficking but no evidence was offered by the Crown and the charges have been left on file.

After months of intelligence gathering, 50 uniformed and plain-clothes police raided the family homes in late 1999 and discovered large quantities of cannabis resin, 1.2 kilos of heroin worth £50,000, and £170,000 made from dealing.

It was the biggest heroin seizure of the past decade in Sussex and the largest amount of drugs money ever recovered in the county.

Sussex Police intend applying to the courts for a drugs trafficking order which would mean the £170,000 and millions of pounds from the sale of the family homes, properties, luxury cars and other valuables would go to Government central funds.

Detective Inspector Paul Grundy, of the force Operations and Intelligence branch which led the inquiry, said: "These people were dealing in death and had a complete disregard for the effects heroin and other drugs had on people."