THREE men have pleaded guilty to selling drugs to an undercover police officer as part of a huge drugs operation in Basildon.

Ashley Grandfield, William Holden and William Rickard were arrested earlier this year after getting caught selling a mixture of class A and class C drugs to an undercover officer during Operation Cumulus.

The undercover operation, which has now finished, targeted people dealing in drugs in Basildon, leading to the arrests of 17 people.

Grandfield, 44, of Ravenscourt Drive, Vange, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to supplying 94mg of heroin to an undercover police officer in Basildon on February 7. His sentencing was delayed because of other unrelated court matters.

Holden, 39, of Witchards, Basildon, pleaded guilty to two counts of selling crack cocaine and heroin to the same undercover officer on February 16.

Mitigating, Grant Benjamin said: “Mr Holden is now working and he has drugs problems.

“The defendant had gone to his usual dealer and he was asked to take another wrap to another man, and at a height of stupidity he went to meet someone else in the park.”

The case was adjourned until the week of September 5 for a pre-sentence report and sentencing.

Rickard, 41, of Hockley Road, Basildon, also pleaded guilty to supplying heroin, cocaine and diazepam to a police officer on March 4 and March 30.

The case was adjourned until September 12 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Mike Fraser, prosecuting Rickard and Holden, said after the case that all three men were known to each other.