A 20 YEAR-OLD man told police he had dealt cannabis from his Oswaldtwistle living room to help pay his mortgage and fund his own drug habit, a court was told.

But Alan Thomas Kirkley's second income earned him a spell behind bars when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply.

Kirkley, of Stanhill Road, also pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamine and damaging a window belonging to Timothy Hartley. Kirkley was sentenced to a total of 60 days in prison.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said the drugs offences came to light after a police raid at his home address.

The damage to the window had been committed in the early hours of the morning. Mr Hartley heard a large crash and looked out to see Kirkley holding a metal bar with a spiked ball on the end.

Kirkley told police there had been a verbal altercation between him and Mr Hartley. Sian Hall, defending, said the offences represented a watershed in Kirkley's life.

"He decided that things had to change and that is exactly what he is planning to do," said Miss Hall.

She said that on the day of the criminal damage, her client's girlfriend had taken an overdose and he had received a phone call to say she was in a coma.

"She had taken that overdose at the address where he broke the window," said Miss Hall.