FIVE Vietnamese have been sentenced to a total of 21 years in prison after police found more than £300,000 worth of cannabis in seven houses.

The four men and one woman stood in the dock at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, as Judge Anthony Briggs handed down jail terms of between three and seven years each.

The judge said: "All of you were involved in a serious conspiracy of cultivating cannabis in seven different houses in the Teesside suburbs.

"The potential yield from all those houses was in excess of £300,000.

"The targeting of Teesside by establishing these cannabis farms was a gross affront and insult to the law-abiding residents of the area where it happened.

"Operations of this type, mounted from outside, on such a wide scale, is something Teesside can be well without."

Officers from Cleveland Police uncovered the drugs in May and June in houses across Stockton and Middlesbrough, as part of Operation Basar.

After the hearing, Inspector Mel Ashley, of the Middlesbrough drugs unit, said: "This is serious organised crime.

Cannabis is the commodity that they are using.

"I think the sentences have sent a clear message out: if you're coming to the Cleveland area, we will find you. You will appear before the court and you will get a lengthy sentence."

The gang used rented properties on Kader Farm Road, Park Lane, Marton Road, Farndale Road, Green Lane and Wellesley Road, in Middlesbrough, and Thornaby Road, Stockton, the court heard.

They all pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis between November 2,8 last year, and June 13.

The leading gang member sentenced was Mai Xuan Phan, of Carlbury Avenue, Middlesbrough.

The 37-year-old, who is also known as Michell, was given seven years in jail.

Judge Briggs told her: "You are clearly mature, experienced and intelligent and I take the view that you played the major part in this operation."

The judge accepted Phan was led by her boyfriend, who has not been named or charged.

Chi Hung Nguyen, 22, of Parliament Road, Middlesbrough, also known as Mike, was given a sentence of five-and-a-half years.

Dung Ngo, 28, Binh Huy Tho, 25, and Hoa Thai Nguyen, 24, all of no fixed address, were each sentenced to three years.

All five will be considered for deportation once their jail terms are finished.