A BLACKBURN man who supplied drugs to a friend who later died has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Preston Crown Court was told Steven McLaughlin had tried to warn the other man of the dangers of taking drugs and drink.

But 37-year-old Gary Dixon was subsequently found dead in February this year and as result of those events the offences came to light.

McLaughlin, 35 of Douglas Place, Blackburn, appeared for sentence after admitting two charges of drug supplying and one of theft. Two further thefts were taken into consideration.

Mr Arthur Stuttard, prosecuting, said when police went to the scene the defendant was present, as was a female.

At that stage McLaughlin admitted having supplied the dead man with heroin and methadone.

The woman went on to tell police that Mr Dixon had had a considerable drink problem, but was not a regular drug user.

He was said to have been depressed about a friend's death. She and the defendant had warned Mr Dixon that taking methadone and having drink could prove fatal, but the deceased had paid no attention to that, consuming two bottles of methadone.

McLaughlin told officers when he was interviewed he had been asked on four or five occasions some weeks previously to supply heroin to the man. He supplied him with methadone the night before he died. A doctor's report stated the amount of alcohol taken would have increased the methadone's toxicity.

Mr John Jackson, defending, said McLaughlin faced no charge in relation to the death. He had been prescribed the drug and gave some to the deceased.

"The defendant was concerned about the alcohol because he knew that, despite the attempts of Mr Dixon's girlfriend and himself, the deceased insisted on taking methadone.

"The defendant took away some alcohol the man had, hoping that would at least prevent the problem that in fact arose."