TWO men involved in peddling high-purity crack cocaine in Burnley are behind bars for a total of nine years.

Addict Shaun Ross, 33, who was caught with the drug three times, including one occasion within days of his release from jail, was sent to prison for six years. Co-defendant Stephen Starkie, 27, faces three years inside.

Judge David Pirie said the class-A controlled drug was the most serious category and the gravity lay in the harm it did to those who became addicted.

Ross, of Scott Street, Padiham, who dealt to fund his own habit, admitted three counts of possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply, possessing heroin and possessing cannabis resin.

Starkie, of Fielden Street, Burnley, had earlier pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

June Morris, prosecuting, said last August, police saw Ross put something under the seat of a car when they approached him.

When they searched him they found more than £400 under the driver's seat and when they looked at the back of the car where they had earlier seen Ross bend down, officers found a number of white rocks. Ross was arrested and told them: "We will see whose fingerprints are on it. You are making it up."

A total of 17.96 grammes of crack cocaine with a street value of almost £2,000 and £17 worth of cannabis resin were found. Ross was interviewed, said he had had the money for some time and he was a £10 a day heroin addict.

Miss Morris said he was bailed and last November the defendant was spotted by a police sergeant driving along a Burnley street. Also in the car was Starkie and as police approached, Ross removed 19 wraps of crack cocaine, worth £400, from his pocket. He discarded them and Starkie was found in possession of £346 cash. Both were arrested and taken to the police station and Ross was again bailed. Last December, Ross was again arrested on Cog Lane after being in possession of crack cocaine to the tune of £1,200. He said he had got the drugs from somebody else he refused to name.

Suzanne Goddard, defending Ross, said his criminal record to date had been largely dishonesty and burglary. In 1998 he got involved in taking heroin, after getting to know people whilst in custody and that was where it all began. He quickly became addicted, also getting involved in cocaine and turned to selling to feed his own habit.

There was no evidence of an extravagant lifestyle or high living and he dealt to a small circle of friends. He had never been on a drug treatment course, but had been going to group therapy whilst on remand.

John Woodward, defending Starkie, said the evidence against him had been quite thin at the beginning.

He had been involved in drugs for about 10 years and on his own admission they had ruined his life. He had been earning good money in the mid to late 90s, but had been made redundant. Starkie lived at home and looked after his mother, who was suffering from cancer.