A 38-YEAR-OLD Stourbridge man is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars for his involvement in a plot to supply cocaine.

Ross Richards, of Heathlands, was one of four people convicted by a jury of conspiracy to supply the controlled drug.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge and their trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court in front of Judge Michael Challinor began in August.

But the four were all convicted by the eight man-four woman panel after they retired to consider the evidence at the end of the trial.

The panel considered the evidence against Richards and his co-defendants for just over 15 hours before returning their unanimous verdicts.

Richards was in the dock with Stephen Hunt, aged 33, of Edgehill Road, Birmingham, Eamon Henry, aged 28, of Marston Road, Weoley Castle, and 31-year old Laura Simmons, of Sir Hiltons Road, West Heath.

They have all been told by the Judge that they will be sentenced for their parts in the conspiracy on a date to be fixed - expected to be in the New Year.

After the jury returned their verdicts against the four defendants they retired again before finding two others not guilty on the conspiracy charge.

They reached majority verdicts clearing Christopher Trueman, aged 39, of Maise Close, Churchill, Redditch, and Peter Quinn, aged 36, of Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley, of any involvement in the plot.