Stephen Ford and Kian Rulten controlled the “F&K” line which was responsible for supplying nearly 1.5kg of cocaine over a 15 month period between April 2021 and July last year, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Richard Potts, prosecuting, said between April and October 2021 nearly 1,000 purchases of cocaine were made from the line.

The minimum amount of each deal was £40 giving a minimum value of the transactions of £38,640 and a total weight of 483g.

Court - Ipswich Crown Court

Mr Potts said that between December 6 and May last year 1,946 purchases of cocaine were made from the line with a total value of £77,840 and a total weight of 973g.

The court heard police officers investigating the sale of Class A drugs carried out a number of warrants simultaneously in Colchester and Mersea Island early on July 21 last year The court heard following his arrest Rulten was found to have a Rolex watch and £7,000 cash.

Ford, 32, of Monkwick Avenue, Colchester, Luke Welham, 26, of Vince Close, West Mersea, Jake Goodspeed, 25, of Monkwick Avenue, Colchester, and Rulten, 28, of Morant Road, Colchester, admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Ford also admitted an offence of assault by beating which was committed on September 9 2021 and possessing a flick knife and a truncheon.

Goodspeed also admitted wounding a man in the car park of the Leather Bottle pub in Shrub End Colchester in September 2021.

The court heard Ford had punched a man in the face.

Attack - The Leather Bottle pub (Image: Google Maps)

Goodspeed had then hit the man in the face with a glass or a bottle which had smashed on contact with his face.

The victim was later found to have three wounds measuring 10cm, 5cm and 3cm which were treated with 22 sutures.

Welham also admitted possessing 6g cocaine and a small amount of cannabis which was discovered after police searched his home.

Geoff Bethell, 26, of Straight Road, Colchester, and Rulten admitted being involved in a violent incident at Hudson’s Bar in Head Street, Colchester, on March 13 last year.

During the incident Bethell, who is a plumber, punched a man in the face causing him to fall to the ground where he was then kicked in the head and torso by Rulten.

The victim suffered a number of cuts to his face.

Venue - Hudson, in Head Street, Colchester (Image: Elysium Group)

Bethell admitted assault and was given a 14 month prison sentence sentence suspended for two years, a 35 day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to the victim.

The court heard Ford, who has 113 previous convictions, had no previous convictions for possession or supply of class A drugs.

Simon Gladwell, for Ford, said his client had been selling cars but this had been difficult to do in the coronavirus pandemic.

He had also been running a fitness club cafe which had to close and he had turned to drugs to support his family.

The court heard Rulten suffered from anxiety and had taken steps to turn his life around since he’d been in custody.

Donal Lawlor, for Welham, said he was only involved in the conspiracy to supply drugs for a period of five months.

He said Goodspeed was only involved in the conspiracy for eight weeks and had needed money after losing his job through an injury.

Judge Martyn Levett adjourned sentence on Ford, Rulten, Welham and Goodspeed until tomorrow.