POLICE last night welcomed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence imposed on a Jamaican-born crack cocaine dealer.

Odeon Dixon was jailed yesterday and a judge recommended that he should be deported once he has served his sentence because he is of "potential detriment" to the country.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 25-year-old has indefinite leave to stay in the UK and has two children from relationships he has had since arriving from the Caribbean.

Defence barrister Richard Bennett argued that Dixon was not a dangerous man and, despite previous convictions for cannabis possession, driving offences and breaching a court order, he was not detrimental to the UK.

Mr Bennett said Dixon was not "yet another Jamaican Yardie drug-dealer", but said his client was aware there were such people involved in the region's underworld.

But Judge Peter Armstrong rejected the pleas not to recommend deportation and told Dixon: "The time has come when you have now gone into the major league of crime."

He added: "In those circumstances, I am afraid, despite the effect it may have on any dependants you may have in this country, the seriousness of this offence indicates to me that you will represent a potential detriment to the UK."

Judge Armstrong will recommend to Home Secretary John Reid that Dixon should be deported at the end of his sentence.

On Thursday, Cleveland Police joined forces with Durham Police to launch Operation Sabre to infiltrate the organised drug-dealing networks across the region.

Last night, John Findlay, of the district drugs office at Middlesbrough police headquarters, said: "We are delighted with the sentence and the decision that he should be deported.

"Anyone coming into this country and, indeed, our towns, to supply crack cocaine will be targeted."

The court hard that Dixon was arrested during a drugs raid in central Middlesbrough on August 12, last year, when he was seen peering through the window of a house that was being searched.

He ran away and when he was caught, a rock of crack cocaine fell from his mouth. A further six wraps were found in his mouth. The drugs were 50 per cent pure crack cocaine and were worth £622.

Dixon, of Bow Street, Middlesbrough, admitted possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

Judge Armstrong accepted Mr Bennett's assertion that Dixon was a courier and not a main player in the drugs world, but said: "Those who come to Middlesbrough and involve themselves in this sort of thing can expect to get substantial sentences."