A police sting uncovered a heroin operation run by two brothers, a court has been told.

Paul Costello was said to be the fixer in the supply chain and his younger brother, Lee, the foot soldier, Teesside Crown Court was told.

The pair, who were jailed for four and-a-half years each by Judge Les Spittle, were trapped by Cleveland Police officers posing as buyers.

Paul Costello had previously received a 42-month sentence for drug dealing, while his brother had completed a nine-month spell in prison for the supply of heroin only four days before his arrest.

Sarah Mallet, prosecuting, said the Costellos, of Burbank Street, Hartlepool, were arrested as a result of a police operation between January 14 and February 27 targeting drug dealers in the town.

On a number of occasions, officers rang a mobile phone number which had been left in a phone box in the town, next to the letters "CO", to request wraps of heroin.

They spoke to Paul Costello, 30, who arranged for his brother to make the drug drops.

Police were able to match the numbers to mobile phones found at a house where the Costellos were arrested.

Graeme Gaston, for Paul Costello, who pleaded guilty to one count of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, said he had "fobbed off" officers on later occasions when they called for drugs, and had stopped dealing before his arrest.

Martina Connelly, for Lee Costello, who admitted three counts of supplying class A drugs, said he was a foot soldier in the operation.