Seven people were jailed for a total of 29 years as Sussex stepped up its war on crack.

Judge David Rennie blasted dealers for their "filthy trade" as he dealt out stiff sentences at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

Detectives who led the crackdown welcomed the tough stance taken in court.

On Thursday the same judge sentenced two Brighton dealers to ten years each behind bars.

Many of those jailed yesterday were convicted of delivering drugs or setting up liaisons with dealers.

They were caught after Sussex Police set up Operation County, using undercover officers to pose as drug users looking for supplies.

Eighteen people were arrested in dawn swoops on homes in Eastbourne and Hastings on May 2.

Nine pleaded guilty to supplying Class A drugs when they appeared before Eastbourne magistrates the following day.

Eight appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentence yesterday.

Big Issue seller MARC STEWART, 32, of Southfields, Polegate, was jailed for four and a half years for two counts of supplying crack cocaine and breaching bail conditions. He was working in Eastbourne town centre when officers asked him if he knew where they could buy some crack.

He and girlfriend Sarah Pickstock later took them and four others to The Archery park where wraps of crack were handed over.

The court heard he had 44 previous offences of which 22 were drug-related.

Frank Winslett, defending, said Stewart had committed offences to feed his drug habit in the past but had now got his life back under control.

ROBERT JURY, 30, of Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, was jailed for four years on two counts of supplying crack cocaine.

He was recommended to undercover officers by Marc Stewart.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of ADRIAN FOWLER, 31, of Earl Street, Hastings, who failed to attend court yesterday.

RICHARD HENLEY, 32, of Bourne Street, Eastbourne, was jailed for five years for supplying heroin, burglary and failure to surrender to bail. The court heard he met undercover officers on March 20 and handed over a wrap of heroin.

When his flat was raided, Henley leapt naked from his bedroom window in an attempt to escape.

Mr Winslett said Henley was an addict and the offence had been committed to feed his habit.

Judge Rennie said: "You made the mistake of crossing the line from taking drugs to supplying them. Brighton and Hove and Eastbourne are blighted by people like you who lend themselves to this filthy trade."

ALI ASHGAR, 34, of Seaside Road, Eastbourne, was jailed for four years on four charges of supplying crack cocaine and two years for supplying heroin.

Jeremy Cave, defending, said Ashgar was born in Bangladesh and came to England as a boy.

He worked as a driver for Indian restaurants in Eastbourne and agreed to deliver and collect money for suppliers in the town after he got into debt.

JULIAN BALSIKONCIS, 32, of Tintern Close, Eastbourne, was jailed for four years for supplying heroin to undercover officers, who contacted him through Stewart.

He has a long history of drugs convictions and has served six prison sentences.

JAQUELINE ELLIOTT, 38, of Brydges Close, Eastbourne, was jailed for three years on three charges of supplying crack cocaine.

The court heard she had long-standing drugs problems and that if she was jailed her three teenage children would have nobody to care for them as her partner is disabled.

She agreed to act as a drugs courier for £40 a day to earn money so her daughter could go on a school trip to France.

SARAH PICKSTOCK, 19, of Southfields, Polegate, was jailed for two and a half years on two charges of supplying crack cocaine.

Stewart's girlfriend first started taking heroin when she was a student at Lewes Tertiary College two years ago. She had been on a methadone programme when she became involved again with friends who were also taking drugs.

Judge Rennie adjourned sentencing in the case of STEPHEN WILLIAMS, 40, of Penrith Way, Eastbourne, for medical reports.

Detective Sergeant Gordon Denslow, who led the operation, said sentences marked the determination of the authorities to drive dealers out of Sussex.

He said: "Crack cocaine and heroin has become an increasing problem and there has been an increase in the number of drug-related deaths.

"In fact, the latest was just last week."