A MASSIVE majority of Advertiser readers think four drug dealers who were busted by undercover police should have got longer sentences, according to a poll.

But police say it is about rehabilitating the men as well as punishing them.

As reported in Monday's paper, Justin Collier, 34, was jailed for four years, Stuart Cambridge, 34, got three years, and 30-year-old Robert Woodford two years.

Andrew Bloxsome, 22, was given a 51-week sentence, which was suspended for two years.

The four were caught out by Operation Duty when a male and female officer posed as addicts called Paul and Charlie and got in with users around The Parade and Regent Street.

All of them had been dealing Class A drugs in the town centre and officers in the case said the men were offering drugs to perfect strangers.

The men all had a history of offending.

Cambridge, of Albany Close, had 93 previous convictions and Collier, of Beaulieu Close, Toothill, had 82.

Bloxsome, also of Beaulieu Close, had eight previous convictions and Woodford, of Bow Court, South Street, Old Town, had four.

After the case, senior investigating officer Insp Jerry Dawson said the sentences sent out a clear message to anyone thinking of dealing in the town.

But Advertiser readers think the courts should have been even tougher.

Eighty-nine per cent of people who phoned in or voted online said they did not think the sentences were enough.

Just 11 per cent thought the judge had got it right.

Insp Dawson said: "I can understand the public being upset but it's not just about locking them up and throwing away the key.

"It's about making sure they come out of prison better people.

"I think we have got to be mindful that most of the people involved are victims themselves.

"Once you become hooked on controlled drugs there's very little you can do.

"It's not just about long-term jail sentences, we also need to use rehabilitation programmes.

"All these men have agreed to rehabilitation. Some will succeed and some might not but even if we can stop two of them taking drugs that's got to be a good thing.

"It's not necessarily good for them to be locked up for years and years. It's about what we can do to stop them offending again."