Three police officers who worked with the elite National Crime Squad have gone on trial accused of drug dealing.

Two officers from Derbyshire and one from Nottinghamshire, were allegedly caught taking and dealing in cannabis and cocaine, Leicester Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

The men were trapped in an undercover operation using hidden cameras at a house in Derbyshire.

Four other people are also accused, the court was told.

Complete integrity

Michael Pert QC, prosecuting, said the group was caught using and dealing in cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy at the home of Nicola Bladen, 35, between December 2000 and April last year.

Mr Pert said: "These offences are serious in themselves and made more serious by the fact that three of the defendants are police officers."

He told jurors that the officers had all served with the National Crime Squad (NCS), which deals with serious and organised crime including drug trafficking.

"These officers should be the best of the best, dedicated and resourceful detectives with complete integrity," said Mr Pert.

Supplying cocaine

Detective Sergeant David Redfern, 42, of Derbyshire police, is charged with supplying and possessing cocaine and cannabis, and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Detective Constable Heather Bossart, 40, of Nottinghamshire Police, faces two counts of possessing cocaine.

Detective Sergeant Mark Jennison, 41, of Derbyshire Police, is charged with one court of supplying cocaine and faces two charges of possessing the drug.

Covert camera

The court was told that Ms Bladen was Mr Redfern's girlfriend and that drug-taking and dealing took place at her home.

Ms Bladen of Dale End, Hilton, Derbyshire, is accused of 11 charges of offering to supply, supplying or conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis and faces counts of possessing cocaine and ecstasy.

Martin Raynor, 46, from Derby, is charged with conspiring to supply cannabis and Mark Hancock, 45, also of Derby, faces a charge of conspiring to supply cocaine.

David Jones, 38, is charged with possession of cocaine and conspiracy to supply the same drug. In December 2000, officers installed a covert video camera in the kitchen of Ms Bladen's home.

Mr Pert said the device had captured images and conversations relating to drug taking and that all three officers had taken drugs at the address.

The trial continues.