A massive drugs operation linking Huddersfield and Newcastle has been smashed.

And a number of men have been jailed after a court heard how heroin was shipped between the two areas after two ringleaders met in prison.

The north-east drugs boss David Charlton and his Huddersfield counterpart Tariq Hussain hatched the plot in their cells.

Now Hussain and two more Huddersfield men are behind bars as are four from Newcastle.

Charlton was caught running a heroin racket weeks after being released from prison for a cocaine plot - despite a dramatic bid for freedom when his gang rammed police cars and ran over a detective.

David Charlton was locked up for eight years in 2009 after operating a cocaine factory with his dad from their bathroom.

But after being let out of prison after serving half his sentence, Charlton went straight back to his old ways, this time with the help of his brother.

Heroin seized by police from David Charlton's gang

He was the kingpin in a Gateshead gang who were bringing large amounts of high-purity heroin into the North East from Huddersfield.

Police were on to them and closed in to bust the gang as they met to do a deal in the car park at West Denton Retail Park, in Newcastle.

But one of Charlton’s henchman rammed through police cars which had blocked them in, dragging another member of the gang along then flinging him to the ground as he desperately tried to get in the passenger door of the speeding car.

The driver for the Huddersfield group then followed through the blockade and ran over a detective, carrying him on the bonnet then throwing him to the ground.

Both cars were then involved in high-speed crashes and police recovered a kilo of heroin and £32,930 in cash.

£32,930 seized from David Charlton's heroin gang

Now Charlton has been jailed for eight years and eight months as the gang were locked up for a total of more than 30 years after admitting the heroin conspiracy at Newcastle Crown Court.

Sentencing them, Judge Robert Adams told Charlton: “It’s fairly clear you were undeterred by the previous sentence and speedily returned to your criminal activities almost as soon as you could after your release.”

He added: “It seems greed got the better of you.”

The court heard the gang had started making regular trips between the North East and Huddersfield shortly after Charlton was released from jail in June 2013.

He was making wholesale purchases from the Yorkshire contingent, led by Tariq Hussain, whom he had met in prison while serving his last sentence.

Police had them under surveillance and pounced on October 15, 2013, as the groups met up.

Hussain overturned his car as he tried to get away.

In the boot of the Fiesta was two half-kilo blocks of heroin of around 70% purity, £32,930 cash and 4kg of cutting agent.

David Charlton, jailed for running heroin gang in Gateshead

David Charlton, 35, of Coltfoot Gardens, Felling, George Charlton, 39, of Coniston, Heworth, Smith, 44, of Salisbury Street, and Davis, 44, of Bevan Gardens, Wardley, all Gateshead, admitted conspiracy to supply to supply heroin.

Charlton got eight years and eight months and was given a serious crime prevention order restricting his activities when he is released.

Smith was jailed for five and a half years, Davis got four years and four months and George Charlton will be sentenced at a later date.

Tariq Hussain, member of heroin gang

Tariq Hussain, 32, of Springdale Street, Thornton Lodge, Waheem Zaman, 24, Scarwood Terrace, Milnsbridge, and Qamar Hussain, 23, Church Street, Huddersfield also admitted conspiracy to supply heroin.

Tariq Hussain was jailed for eight years and eight months, Zaman got three years and Qamar Hussain got three years and two months.

As well as the drugs conspiracy, Smith and Qamar Hussain also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.