UNDERCOVER officers foiled a drugs gang peddling crack cocaine and heroin on the streets.

Dylan Burke led the gang, which had branded itself as the Ace Line in Brighton.

The 21-year-old appeared in court alongside Jaden McKenzie and Amarie Quarry, who organised deals, AirBnb accommodation and the runners to sell on the street.

But they were caught by police who unravelled the gang’s operation.

At Hove Crown Court, it was revealed that Burke was “top of the pyramid”.

As she jailed him for three years and ten months, Judge Christine Henson QC said he had “thrown away” his promising career in Thai boxing.

McKenzie and Quarry, both 21, were both sentenced to two years in prison for their roles in the conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Meanwhile the runners for the Ace Line were Billie Banton-Watson, 18, Louis Rigby, 19, Zoe Samuel, 19, and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Oliver Wellings, prosecuting, said all the defendants had admitted their roles in the conspiracy to supply class A drugs, apart from Burke.

Police used undercover officers to make test purchases and carry out surveillance to catch the gang.

They found the drugs stash at an address in Broad Street, off St James’s Street, Brighton.

Mr Wellings said the gang from South East London and Croydon saw Brighton as their ideal market.

Burke, formerly of Headley Drive, Croydon, will also face action under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Oliver Kirk, defending, said Burke was only 19 at the time he was caught, and has a supportive family.

He said: “My client is serving his first term of custody, he is not finding it easy. I’m not sure he yet realises the effect this will have on his career in Thai boxing.”

Judge Henson told Burke he had breached a suspended sentence but accepted he was immature at the time of the offences.

She said: “You had a promising career in Thai boxing and you have thrown that away.”

Sarah Jones QC, defending Jaden McKenzie, of Stowell Avenue, Croydon, said the case has caused “embarrassment and distress” for his family, particularly his father, who is a probation officer.

Mark Stevens, defending Quarry, of Langston Hughes Close, Lambeth, said his client has been helping to care for his aunt and her children.

It was revealed that Louis Rigby, of Ditchling Road, Brighton, was recruited to sell on the streets as he was addicted to tranquilisers to a “ridiculous extent”.

Thomas Nicholson-Pratt, defending, said his client was in a “drug addled state” but only dealt once before deciding it was not for him.

Since then, Rigby has turned his life around by finding work with Marks and Spencer in Brighton. He was given a ten-month suspended sentence.

Zoe Samuel, of Sorrell Bank, Selsden, was also given a ten month suspended sentence while Billie Banton-Watson, of Goddard Road, Beckenham was given a youth referral order.