Central Scotland Police have praised the Stirling community for their assistance that led to the arrest and conviction of a local drug trafficking ring at the High Court in Glasgow last week.

Five men were jailed and a woman was given community service as a result of a police operation that led to the seizure of more than �1.5 million of drugs.

Operation Nomad was set up by Central Scotland Police in March last year.

Central Scotland Police Chief Insp Sneddon said: "This operation came about as a result of information from the community. We need the continued support of the community to help us build up a case to be able make arrests and we do act on information received. The people involved in this case, and others involved in drugs, cause untold misery to our communities and this shows our determination in pursuing those involved in dealing in drugs." Six people appeared at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Leigh Dobson, 27, who was seen as the gang leader, received the largest sentence and was given eight years in Jail. Dobson's 29-year-old older brother Ryan was also jailed for five and a half years by Judge Lord Bonomy.

Craig Cowie, 23, described as a "taxi driver" in the drug trafficking, was ordered to serve four years in prison.

Keith Fitzwater, 27, was locked up for four and a half years, while Kyle Henderson, 23, was sentenced to three years.

Christine Wingate, 45, an unemployed mother used by the gang to store drugs was the only one spared jail after she was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard the details of how Christine Wingate took delivery of drugs on behalf of the Dobsons.

When Central Scotland Police raided her home in Springfield Road, Stirling, they uncovered �48,400 of cocaine.

The court was also told that police seized �1,100 of cocaine from the home that Kyle Henderson shared with his grandparents in Stirling.

While officers uncovered �42,560 of cocaine in the Stirling flat of Keith Fitzwater.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of drugs worth in excess of �1.5m outwith the Central Scotland area and were directly linked to crime groups supplying the Dobsons.