FOUR people convicted of running a heroin and cocaine ring in Ebbw Vale were warned yesterday they face an "inevitable" jail sentence.

Jurors at Cardiff crown court convicted Peter Walker, 32, of Selly Oak, Birmingham, Leigh Edmunds, aged 33, and Rebecca Powles, aged 22, both of Alexandra Street, Ebbw Vale, and Mark Jenkins, aged 27, of Marine Street, Cwm, of conspiring to supply heroin and cocaine.

Walker was also found guilty of assaulting Detective Constable Roy Emmott with intent to resist arrest.

At an earlier hearing, Dwayne Stirrell, 21, of Bristol, and William Davies, aged 42, of Armoury Terrace, Ebbw Vale, had each admitted a charge of conspiracy. Sentence was adjourned for reports until November 7.

Judge Rodrick Denyer warned them that custody was "inevitable".

The convictions were the culmination of a police operation which lasted from mid-April to May 3, when they kept observations in Ebbw Vale and spotted Walker, Stirrell and another man delivering quantities of drugs from Bristol.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said they were brought to sell to local residents and went mainly to the home of Davies, where they "set up shop".

Also assisting in distributing the drugs were Edmunds, Powles and Jenkins. The police arrested Stirrell in Cwm on May 3 when he spat out two packages of heroin, and, after a violent struggle, they succeeded in arresting Walker, who had 22 packages of crack cocaine in his mouth.

Walker said he came to Britain from Jamaica on holiday, stayed on as an illegal immigrant and went to Ebbw Vale with friends. He told the court he had no involvement with drugs.

Edmunds and Powles denied distributing drugs and said they bought them for their own use.

Powles admitted not telling the police the truth because she was afraid of the men from Bristol.

"Those people are extremely heavy," she said. "If I'd been a grass I could have had my head blown off."

Jenkins was not called to give evidence. All the defendants except Powles were remanded in custody.