A MORECAMBE man who unwittingly introduced many of the resort's heroin dealers to undercover police has been jailed for three years.

Simon Helliwell thought he was setting up meetings between customers and dealers but his role as an intermediary was part of a police trap.

The 34 year old from Rothesey Road was given the sentence after pleading guilty at Preston Crown Court to three offences of being concerned in the supply of heroin, ecstasy and cannabis plus one offence of supplying heroin and one of theft.

Mr David Pickup, prosecuting, said the case related to an undercover police operation called Kipper which centred on a shop in Yorkshire Street.

In autumn 1998 the premises were run by two policemen called George and Eric. Events at the shop were both audio and video recorded.

The officers let it be known that they were interested in buying stolen goods and also drugs.

The first meeting with the defendant took place in March 1999. Helliwell was not dealing himself but he introduced buyers of the drugs to sellers. As a result of his involvement around £9,000 worth of class A drugs were supplied and he received around £140 for his involvement.

Mr Andrew Lawson, defending, said Helliwell had been an unwitting facilitator to the police. He was involved over a five month period and it was easy for him to go and earn a tenner in order to buy heroin.

But the defendant had also sought friendship at the shop.

Mr Lawson said threats of punishment had been made against Helliwell and his family by dealers who felt he had "grassed them up." He had also been severely beaten up by others even though it was not the case.

"He is know throughout the area as that idiot Helliwell, that grass Helliwell. No one will sell him drugs through this set of proceedings. It has effectively cut off any avenue of supply."

Judge Andrew Blake said it seemed the defendant was at the bottom end of the scale. There was no other way of dealing with him other than prison.