TWO more men have been jailed after being caught up in a police sting in Huddersfield.

They are paying the price after making the mistake of dealing with an undercover police operation based at a bogus shop in Lockwood.

The motor spares shop, called Elite Alloys, was started as a way of a gaining intelligence and evidence against criminals suspected of involvement in supplying drugs.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the premises were fitted with visual and audio surveillance equipment and two undercover officers ran the shop for customers as part of Operation Esteem.

Yesterday Mr Justice Mackay jailed Jonathan O'Neill, 26, for four years and Stephen Mellor, 46, for three years after hearing how they were in a conspiracy to supply cocaine to the undercover officers.

Prosecutor Gerald Hendron said Mellor, of Back Lane, Holmfirth, and O'Neill, of Lydgate Close, New Mill, were involved in supplying three ounces of cocaine to the officers.

O'Neill also tried to supply a further ounce of the Class A drug.

A third defendant, James Goodyear, 25, of France Hill, Holmfirth, also admitted involvement in the conspiracy.

But his role was limited to looking after two packages of cocaine as a favour for O'Neill.

Goodyear was sentenced to 150 hours community work.

Mr Hendron told the court that later in the conspiracy O'Neill was discussing supplying the officers with up to a kilo of cocaine and quoting a price of £30,000 per kilo.

The trio were eventually arrested in April this year.

The court heard that O'Neill had suffered a head injury in April last year, but Mr Justice Mackay told him: "Despite the effects of the head injury you were sufficiently enterprising . . . to involve yourself in this murky and dangerous trade.

"I am satisfied you were the leading light in this conspiracy. You plainly had access to a higher-up supply of Class A drugs.

"You are not an average street dealer selling to fund a personal addiction. You were a commercial drug dealer.

"Substantial prison sentences are invariably and inevitably the result for those who follow this trade. Your personal mitigation is considerable, but has to take second place to sentencing policy.

"The court must send out a message that dealing in Class A drugs is hazardous both for the customers who buy it and the dealers who engage in this business."

The judge described Mellor as O'Neill's 'lieutenant' and told him he had played an important role as a go-between.

The judge added: "I don't think you were a serious drug dealer at the time, but your role was important to the flourishing of this little business."