A drug dealer broke down in the dock today as he was warned he faced going to jail.

Rohan Simpson, 30, sobbed loudly at Lewes Crown Court after admitting selling crack cocaine on the streets of Hastings.

The court heard Simpson, from south west London, was caught dealing to undercover police officers as part of a major operation to target drug dealers in the seaside town.

Police launched Operations Vertigo and Duel to combat the growing problem of heroin and cocaine in Hastings in 2004. Ten people were arrested and so far nine of them have been sentenced to a total of 30 years in jail. The sentences have ranged from nine years to 18 months behind bars.

Simpson, who has no previous convictions, is the last person arrested to face court.

He admitted five charges of supplying crack cocaine to an undercover officer, known as Kelly, in August and September 2004.

Lawrence Henderson, prosecuting, told the court: "This defendant was on the lowest rung of the supply chain."

The court heard he was arrested in London last autumn which was why it had taken so long for his case to be dealt with.

Mohammed Bashir, defending, said Simpon was not a drug user himself. He said: "He is pretty much resigned to the fact he may be going to prison."

Judge Guy Anthony ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the case until May 30. He told Simpson: "These offences will almost certainly carry a substantial prison sentence."

Police launched the operations in the summer of 2004 when it became clear street dealing was on the increase in the town and it was organised by a group of suppliers.

Detectives identified suppliers who were travelling on day-trips from south London to the coast to deal drugs.

As well as dealing at well-known hot-spots in the town, the dealers were hiding out in wooded areas out the outskirts of Hastings, which made it difficult for police to carry out surveillance.

Detective Sergeant Ray Braiden, from Hastings CID, said: "They would work in pairs, one carrying heroin and the other cocaine."

He said Simpson was circulated as wanted in 2004 but was not arrested until last autumn when his car was stopped by police in London.

He said: "The fight against street supply of class A drugs is something that Sussex Police take very seriously. It is an on-going battle and the deployment of undercover police officers is just one tactic we use."