SIX members of a drugs ring which claimed the lives of two addicts have been jailed for more than 20 years.

The deaths of Dennis Walsh and Madeline Stokes - who both died of drug overdoses - were linked to the ‘Ricky’ drugs network which operated between North London and Brighton until it was stopped by an undercover police investigation.

Dennis Walsh, 48, died at a house in Chalky Road, Portslade on November 14, and Madeleine Stokes, 20, died in Ovingdean on January 13. Inquests concluded both had died from drug overdoses.

Remy Douieb, 22, of Stanford Avenue, Hassocks, was the ring leader of the network which saw a drugs supply chain link from North London to Brighton.

He had phones to close drug deals and direct runners to users wanting to buy heroin and crack cocaine.

Money was then paid into bank accounts linked to him or to group.

He was sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Shani Barnes at Lewes Crown Court.

Drugs runner Scott Collins, 37, of Terminus Road, Brighton was sentenced to four years. Dean Temple, 38, of Sillwood Street, Brighton, was sentenced to 28 months.

Sam Povall, 31, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 27 months.

Other members of the group were from London and Essex.

They included Damian George, 20, of South Park Drive, Ilford, who was sentenced to five years and eight months.

He was Douieb's right hand man, and once seen wielding a large hunting knife.

When he was arrested on the A23 coming into Brighton, a black imitation hand gun was found in his possession.

A seventh member received a suspended sentence.

Officers from the Organised Crime Investigation Team at Brighton Police Station gathered evidence as part of Operation Cooden to take down the drug network known as Ricky and arrested the members in December last year.

Judge Barnes told the men: "I cannot sentence you for the deaths of those poor people but I will name them and they will not be forgotten.

"You were all heavily involved in this prolific, callous and brazen drug dealing. You plied your filthy trade in front of children and families playing on the beach among other areas.

"I would not be doing my duty to the community if I did not pass severe custodial sentences."

Detective sergeant Julian Deans, deputy senior investigating officer, said the operation saw 50 people arrested, the remaining 43 all pleaded guilty to offences.

He said: "I am pleased to have been able to rid the city of this group.

"We will not relent and we will continue to target every heroin dealer who thinks they have a chance of survival in this city."