A MAN has died in prison two days after he was refused bail by Blackburn magistrates on the grounds of ill health.

Robert Douglas, 51, of Redearth Road, Darwen, appeared in court last Thursday on three charges of supplying heroin to undercover police officers.

His solicitor Roger Pickles, of Blackburn-based Roger Pickles & Co, made an application for bail on the grounds that dad-of-one Douglas had dormant lung cancer.

But it was refused and Douglas - known to friends as Rab - was remanded in custody to HMP Preston. He died two days later from what is believed to be a burst duodenal ulcer.

Douglas was due to appear again by video link at Hyndburn magistrates today and Mr Pickles said he intended pleading guilty to the offences.

He said: "His ill health was mentioned in court. He told me he had lung cancer in his right lung but it was dormant.

"That would also have been taken into account when considering sentence."

He leaves behind his partner of eight years, Margaret Bell, 46, and their three year-old daughter, Megan. Margaret, said: "Robert had been violently sick for a few weeks but said there was nothing wrong.

"We didn't expect him to be remanded in custody and I wasn't able to go to see him in prison before he died. The last time I saw him was when he appeared in court.

"He will be really sadly missed by all his family and friends."

Unemployed Douglas was arrested last Wednesday as part of Operation Nimrod, relating to offences allegedly committed last year.

Operation Nimrod is the main enforcement arm of Lancashire Police's fight against drug crime and has so far led to the arrest of hundreds of Class A dealers.

Douglas's bail application was opposed by the prosecution on the grounds he would fail to surrender and possibly commit further crimes.

Douglas, originally from Motherwell, in Scotland, where he still has family, lived in the Darwen area for 30 years.

A Prisons Service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm Robert Douglas died at 1.15pm on Saturday, April 10. At present we cannot confirm the cause of death as investigations are on-going."

An inquest was opened and adjourned in Preston on Wednesday.