A MAN who fell in love with a woman 19 years his junior turned to crime to fund her addiction to drugs, a court heard.

James Holden had found out his lover was soliciting to raise funds for drugs, Preston Crown Court was told.

But the couple had a child which Holden gave up work to look after. He then began to deal in a bid to wipe out her drug debts and was caught red-handed by police.

The 48-year-old of Hermitage Street, Rishton, was committed to Preston Crown court for sentence on eleven charges of supplying Class A drugs - crack cocaine and heroin, two charges of possession with intent so supply the same drugs and

one charge of criminal damage. He was jailed for three years.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, told the court how Holden was caught with drugs on Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn.

In the process of reversing his car, he had collided with an unmarked police car.

Crack cocaine and heroin were found in the car and Holden had, £1,112 in cash on him. At his home a car radio and two videos were found.

Holden admitted possession of drugs and accepted having supplied crack cocaine and heroin for over two and a half months.

Some days he had done up to sixty deals a day. He said he had supplied drugs to fund his girlfriend's habit.

Philip Andrews, defending, said Holden had wholly co-operated with police and the majority of the charges stemmed from his own admissions.

The defendant had served his country from the early 1970s to 1982. He had an exemplary army record. After leaving the army he had been a loss prevention officer and then worked in the computer industry.

"He fell in love with this woman who was a long standing heroin addict.

Holden had "thought the world" of the woman. She had a child which was born addicted to drugs and he became the prime carer, giving up his job.

The barrister also said the woman. She ran up massive debts. Holden was propositioned that the debts would be wiped out if he would deal for the people. He therefore felt he had no alternative.