A MAN spotted acting suspiciously in Lancaster city centre was found to have 17 heroin wraps on him.

Police also discovered a large amount of syringes in John Armstrong's car after earlier being seen to leave some male toilets with two others.

The 29 year old of Huntinghill Road, Carnforth, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a drug with intent to supply.

He had been committed for sentence for a theft and asked for twenty other thefts to be considered.

Two police on duty in the city centre saw three people - one of them the defendant - leave male toilets on the bus station. The others were Big Issue sellers and one of them a female.

Miss Katherine Pierpoint, prosecuting, said Armstrong was approached while unlocking his car.

A large quantity of syringes were found in the footwell of the vehicle.

He was arrested and after a total of seventeen heroin wraps were found on him.

The total weight was 2.10 grammes and the drugs would have been worth £170 on the street.

Mr Christopher Diamond, defending, said Armstrong's life had very much been blighted in recent years by heroin. He started using the drug on a recreational basis, but then became addicted.

"He was financing his own addiction by selling modest quantities of the drug at a small profit to a small circle of friends and acquaintances.

"It isn't a case of a dealer preying on innocent or corrupting the young."

He was sentenced to a total of twenty months prison for the offences, plus a breach of community service.