TWO Burnley people arrested for drug offences in the area have both been jailed for five years.

And a judge who handed down the sentences at Preston Crown Court said how the Court of Appeal had stated many times that those involved in the low level supply of heroin should expect at least five year terms, even for a first conviction.

Judge Stuart Baker made his remarks at the end of a case on Jason Rigby, 28, of Cobden Street, Burnley and Sarah Hargreaves, 22, of Veevers Street, Burnley. She had pleaded guilty to one offence of possessing a drug with intent to supply, while Rigby had admitted two of possession with intent to supply and one of supplying.

Rayaz Mohammed, 36, of Regent Place, Nelson, also pleaded guilty to drug possession and was fined £150.

Julie Taylor, prosecuting, told how a Ford Sierra car was stopped one night in May last year. Rigby was driving while Hargreaves was in the back. Later at a police station she was being strip searched when a package fell to the floor. She tried to hide it under her feet, but it was recovered and found to contain twenty one heroin packages.

The defendant said she had intended selling them at £10 each. That same month Mohammed was found in possession of 13 wraps of heroin after police executed a search warrant at an address. He said the drugs were for his own use. And in October Hargreaves and Rigby were at an address in Forrest House, Burnley, when police searched the premises.

Those two defendants were said to have been around on four occasions when police stopped vehicles or executed search warrants at various addresses.

Roger Baldwin, for Rigby, said he had no previous convictions of a similar nature. He was released from a previous sentence in April of last year.

He got involved in selling heroin on a small scale. "It was street level dealing to give him a modest lifestyle and provide

for his own habit.

"He is no longer addicted to heroin. He went through detoxification when he went into custody". Mark Stuart, for Hargreaves, said she had a previous conviction for a similar offence. In the past she was given a very good chance to stay away from drugs, that ended up wasted.

Her present offence was not at the top end of the scale. Mr Stuart added "This time she has taken steps to rid herself of her addiction. The difficult is getting off this dreadful habit.

"At the moment she is very motivated to stay away from drugs. It is the longest spell she had had without taking drugs".

The judge told her "Anyone dealing in any way in a Class A drug, even for the firs time, must expect a substantial period of imprisonment. To do it a second time is beckoning for a longer and longer sentence."