A DRUG dealer who tried to pass cannabis over the wall into a prison and also had hard drugs stashed at his house, is behind bars for four and a half years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how police found drugs in children's soft toys and had seen 'comings and goings' by young people at Christopher Walsh's Rishton home.

Officers discovered ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis and electronic scales.

Walsh, whose barrister said he had learned about drugs in jail, was told by a judge his dealing had been well organised and the offence at Lancaster Prison had been well thought out.

Recorder Heather Lloyd said the defendant knew how valuable drugs were in prison and that was how he had become involved in abuse.

She went on: "Drugs cause misery for all involved. They are going to cause misery for you, your partner and the children you have."

Walsh, of Spring Street, Rishton, had admitted supplying ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis, possessing heroin, being concerned in supplying cannabis and deception. He had also been committed for sentence by the Hyndburn magistrates, after being convicted of possessing ecstasy tablets. He asked for one offence to be considered.

Richard Grey, prosecuting, said when the defendant's house was searched, dealing paraphernalia was found as well as drugs. But when Walsh was arrested, he made no comment.

He was granted bail and was seen by police outside Lancaster Prison. He had a mobile telephone and was seen to pass a piece of string with a weight attached over the wall.

Walsh was seen using his phone and it was thought he was perhaps in contact with a prisoner. He was arrested and was found to have heroin and cannabis on him.

Mr Grey said the defendant got computer equipment worth almost £400 by deception using a 'cloned' credit card.

Richard Hunt, defending, said the longest jail term Walsh had served in the past was 10 months. He was well aware he would be going to prison for considerably longer than that.

The defendant knew drugs in prison were a problem as that was where he learned about them. On his release he decided to become part of the drugs supply. The barrister told the court: "He learned in prison how to come out and reoffend in a different way."

Mr Hunt said Walsh had only started to use heroin in January of this year after a sad problem with his partner's pregnancy. Walsh either changed his ways or he would have no relationship when he came out of custody.