TWO people have appeared in court following dawn raids by police targeting suspected Class A drug dealers.

Sian Blareau, 33, of Lewes Road, Darlington, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday, July 17) facing eight charges of supplying heroin.

She entered no pleas and was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, July 31.

Thomas Durham, 39, also of Lewes Road, will appear at the crown court on the same day to face one charge of supplying heroin and one of possessing the drug with intent to supply.

He was granted conditional bail.

They were arrested on Wednesday (July 16) after police raided five homes in Darlington and North Yorkshire.

Nine people were arrested during the raids including Lee Hedge, 39, of Gladstone Street, Darlington, who was charged with attempting to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

Catherine Dillon, 43, also of Gladstone Street, was charged with two counts of attempting to supply heroin and another of supplying the drug, while James Stanley Pullen, 33, of Lavender Court, Colburn, North Yorkshire, faces two charges of being concerned in the supply of heroin.

They will all appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court later this month.

Jodie Hutchinson, 32, of Gladstone Street, Darlington, was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin, as was Martin Paul Kelly, 51, of Corporation Road, Darlington. They were bailed until August.

Alexander Thurgood, 30, of Locomotive Street, Darlington, was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin and bailed until August while Keith Skinner, 34, of Napier Street, Darlington was arrested and cautioned for supplying heroin.