A police operation to crack a drugs ring in Swindon, which helped net local businessman Vincent Gibbs, has been praised by a crown court judge.

DETECTIVES won praise from a crown court judge yesterday for their work in breaking up the major Swindon drugs ring.

As the final verdicts in the trial of seven people on drugs conspiracy charges were delivered, judge David Ticehurst commended the "thorough and extensive" investigation, carried out by officers from Wiltshire's major crime unit.

"Drugs are the bane of society and without officers who are prepared to deal with matters in this way, society would be poorer," he told Bristol Crown Court.

His view was echoed by prosecuting counsel Paul Cook, who said a phenomenal amount of effort had been put into the case by those instructing him.

As the case drew to a close Det Insp John Pickering, senior investigating officer, said: "I am quite satisfied that we have achieved our objectives."

He also paid tribute to the detectives who had worked hard on the investigation, along with Det Con Christopher Weemes, the officer in the case, and Maria Hawkins of the Crown Prosecution Service.

"They have done a tremendous job pulling this together," he said.