A gang of crack cocaine dealers snared by undercover police officers have been jailed for more than 25 years.

Ringleader Christine Totten, a 38-year-old mother, lured her co-accused into the Mid Sussex operation by exploiting their addictions and got four of them to sell heroin too.

Judge Richard Hayward, on sentencing, said: "I am told you have all had serious drug problems and it is clear what a disastrous effect this has had on your lives.

"It is one thing to fill up your own bodies with drugs but when you come to peddling drugs to others the court can only take a serious view."

Totten, who dealt drugs from her home in Wilmington Way, Haywards Heath, was sent to jail for six years.

Craig O'Regan, 29, of Arundel Court, Burgess Hill; Rodney Sparshott, 33, of Bentswood Crescent, Haywards Heath; and Nathan Stern, 27, also of Bentswood Crescent, were each jailed for four years.

David Edwards, 32, of Gower Road, Haywards Heath, received three and a half years while Leon Huggins, 23, of Gypsy Hill, London, was given four years plus an extra six months for committing the drug offences while on licence for a previous firearm offence.

Hove Crown Court heard yesterday that drugs were sold to undercover officers who called themselves Donna and Jay through the open front window of Totten's terraced house.

Police maintained contact with the gang from April until June last year. During that time officers repeatedly contacted members of the gang by mobile phone to arrange to buy drugs.

All the meetings were recorded by the police on video or audio taped for evidence.

Christine Laing, prosecuting, told the court Totten was the main organiser and the others acted as agents for her.

She said the ringleader was also happy to accept stolen goods instead of cash in exchange for drugs, including DVDs and jewellery. She also asked for a microwave and encouraged the officers to bring her other goods, including baby clothes.

During one visit she gave officers a lesson on how to steal items from supermarkets.

Ms Laing said: "One of the features of this case is the very large quantities of drugs that appear available to be supplied to the undercover officers.

"A substantial client base existed as Totten at times sold out. She appeared able to replenish her stocks from a source in Brighton at short notice and very regularly."

Jeremy Wainwright, defending Totten, said the gang were addicts who were only small-scale dealers.

He said that his client had never been involved in supplying drugs to people who were not already drug users.

"There is no question of her living a high lifestyle or making substantial money out of this. She lives hand to mouth."

Totten, Sparshott, Stern, Edwards, Huggins admitted being concerned together in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine while O'Regan admitted being concerned with the supply of crack cocaine.