A MOTHER and son were both starting jail sentences today for dealing in heroin from their home.

Mark Mullender, 22, and Sally Baker, 40, were both arrested following an undercover operation launched after growing police concern about drug

dealing in Bognor.

Two other people living at the same address in the town's Collyer Avenue were also

sentenced at Chichester Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how two undercover

detectives spent £1,200 buying heroin in a series of deals which began in April.

The covert operation, codenamed Butane, led to jail sentences totalling ten years.

Keith Hadrill, prosecuting, told the court at one stage Mullender boasted that he and co-defendant Dennis Cox, 34, had 'wiped out' all the

other drug dealers in Bognor.

Mullender and Cox were both jailed for four years and Baker was jailed for two years.

Cox's girlfriend, Julie Slade, 30, who shared a room with him at the

Collyer Avenue terraced house, was put on probation for two years.

The court heard she played a minor role answering one phone call to the mobile phone which was used to take orders for heroin.

The four pleaded guilty to a series of charges involving possession, supplying and being concerned in supplying class A drugs.

Mr Hadrill said after gaining Mullender's confidence two undercover

officers began buying heroin in large and small amounts.

In one deal Baker approached a van used by the officers and handed over heroin hidden in her bra in return for £550.

The money was later found on Cox because the

serial numbers had been recorded.

Mr Hadrill said the mobile phone used by Mullender was answered by various people during the police operation, which also involved tape and video recordings.

He said: "Drugs could speedily be obtained in response to a simple telephone call from small to substantial amounts."

Richard Barton, defending Mullender, said he had been pressured into becoming a drugs runner in Bognor for suppliers based in Littlehampton and his reward was heroin for his own use.

His mother's barrister, Paul Dugdale, said Baker accepted she took part in some drug runs but the cash was handed to Cox and her reward was a free supply of heroin for her own use.

Cox maintained the drug activities were already taking place when he and Slade moved to the address because they were homeless and he was not heavily involved.

Judge Eric Wrintmore told the four their

roles may have varied but they were part of a joint enterprise to supply heroin.

He told Cox even if his claim to be only a telephonist was right he had still played a significant role.

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