A drugs mastermind, who led a conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine worth more than a million pounds across the north, has been jailed for 12 years.

Fariman Khan, 35, was told by a judge that he was the "absolute key" to a conspiracy over many months.

Judge Roger Scott said Khan was not only at the centre of the drugs supply organisation, but was "running the show."

He told him: "You were the pivot, you were the organiser, you were the king pin."

Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday that Khan had been released on licence after being sentenced to eight years imprisonment for possession with intent to supply and firearms offences after heroin was found in his car and house in 1998.

The judge said Khan's case was seriously aggravated by his previous conviction.

Prosecutor Timothy Capstick told the court: "This defendant was the major figure in the supply and distribution of class A drugs across the north of England. He travelled to London and Manchester to obtain drugs and received deliveries from Liverpool. People travelled from South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and the North-East for drugs.

"The drugs that can be attributed to him had a potential street value of £1,135,000."

Khan, of Reynolds Avenue, Scholemoor, Bradford, was the sixth person to be convicted following a major investigation by West Yorkshire Police's Drugs and Organised Crime Unit.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Steve Snow, said after the case: "This was a massive conspiracy being led principally by one individual who had established contacts throughout the country to source and supply drugs.

"The sentence reflects the serious nature of this man's involvement in the supply of class A drugs throughout the north, especially to the city of Bradford. He was dealing in multi kilos of class A drugs. It is important he has been locked up. Removing him has prevented those drugs reaching the people on the streets and the misery it causes."

Det Sgt Snow said it had been a complex investigation involving a significant number of officers who had carried out more than 2,000 hours of surveillance at Khan's safe house in Bertie Street, Dudley Hill, alone.

He added: "We have taken out a substantial class A drugs dealer and taken the drugs off the streets of Bradford and West Yorkshire and we will continue to do that. We will target those individuals who are a menace to society."

The prosecutor said that Khan used the Bertie Street address as a safe house for storing drugs.

He told the court of a series of meetings Khan had from February 2006 with other members of the conspiracy during which drug deals took place.

On September 22 last year he drove to Essex where he was seen being handed a holdall by another man and placing it in the boot of his car.

He drove back to West Yorkshire and was stopped near the Chain Bar roundabout, off the M62.

Mr Capstick said: "He refused to get out and had to be forcibly removed by armed police."

A holdall was recovered from the boot which contained 25 blocks of heroin with a street value of £616,000.

He made no comment when interviewed by police. The property at Bertie Street was searched and a money counting machine recovered, along with heroin and Ecstasy tablets.

Khan was originally arrested for possessing drugs with intent to supply and then re-arrested and interviewed in connection with conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He pleaded guilty to that offence in May.

Balbir Singh, QC, defending, said Khan had been praised for his work with other inmates, including suicidal prisoners, at Leeds Prison while he had been remanded in custody, and he had gained certificates on a college drug awareness course.

Mr Singh said: "He actively plays a part in helping people adjust. The suicide prevention co-ordinator has written in recognition of his contribution. He has been working ten-hour shifts caring for and supporting those on the suicidal care suite.

"This is a man who not only has demonstrated he has seen the error of his ways, but has proved he can be a very good and trusted member of the community."

Judge Scott said he was obliged to give Khan credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity, but added: "This case could have been said to be overwhelming and you had to plead guilty to it."

The judge said that had he been found guilty after a trial the sentence would have been 18 years but he was able to reduce that because of his guilty plea.

He sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment, of which he will serve half, which would follow 200 days of prison recall for breaching his licence from his previous sentence.