A heroin and crack cocaine dealer arrested in a major police swoop on Bradford's streets was today starting a four-year jail sentence.

Rahan Ali, 22, of Sunrise Close, Little Horton, Bradford, was one of more than 70 people arrested for supplying class A drugs by Operation Chevette, run by Bradford District Drugs Team.

He pleaded guilty at the city's magistrates' court on March 6 to 15 offices relating to drug supplying.

Prosecutor Claire Larton told Bradford Crown Court the charges included six occasions when police saw Ali drug dealing in the Legrams Lane area in December and January.

During Operation Chevette, officers posed as drug users and placed orders on a phone line shared by Ali and 11 others. Miss Larton told the court: "It was a well-established and well-organised dealer network."

She said members of the ring were seen plying their trade near schools in the area.

Ali was stopped by the team in Legrams Lane on December 12, and again on February 11 when he had 41 drug wraps and £490 cash on him.

He told officers: "You'd better arrest me. I've got loads of drugs."

His home was searched on March 5 when two phones and a dealer list were seized.

Ali told police he was £14,000 in debt because of his drug addiction and he was dealing on a daily basis.

He said he had been selling drugs since he was 17.

Alan Bridger, Ali's barrister, said he was dealing to fund his habit and pay off an enormous debt.

He wanted to go to prison to free himself from his pernicious habit.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Ali was a prolific dealer who admitted holding stock and selling it on an almost daily basis.

"You were an important cog in this well run operation," the judge said.