A HOMELESS drug user was given a roof over his head - in return for dealing heroin in Blackburn.

Cameron Grant supplied wraps to an undercover policeman.

The second time he did so, he even asked for the word to go out that he was dealing and had heroin readily available.

Grant, 26, now living in Banff, Aberdeenshire, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with two years' supervision, by a Preston Crown Court judge.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying heroin.

His arrest came as part of Operation Nimrod, directed by Lancashire Police against street-level dealing.

Mr Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said officers in the operation were working in the Blackburn area in July last year.

Police first came across Grant while focusing their attentions on a dealer known as Hutchy.

The defendant was complaining about a deal he had been provided with.

On July 25, an undercover officer called Jack rang a contact number he had been given.

He was directed to Hancock Street, Blackburn, where the defendant dealt him two wraps of heroin for £20.

Two days later, more contact was made by phone and the undercover officer went to Canterbury Street.

The officer bought a £10 wrap of heroin.

Mr McEntee said "It was made clear that Hutchy had left the area and was no longer dealing at that time, and that the defendant and a colleague were stepping in to continue dealing.

"The defendant asked the officer to let everyone know he was dealing and had heroin readily available."

Grant went to Scotland afterwards and was arrested there in December.

Mr Richard Dawson, defending, said Grant was a bright and promising young man who had got involved with drug use some years ago.

Mr Dawson said that Grant had made efforts to get away from drugs and had got on a methadone treatment programme.

Judge Pamela Badley said the defendant's case was an exceptional one and that he had managed to change his life before an arrest was made.