A MAN and two women who supplied heroin to undercover police have been sent to prison for a total of almost seven years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Shabir Khan, 27, Nikki Detton, 19, and Sarah Hargreaves, 20, were all arrested earlier this year after being caught selling drugs in a back street in Brierfield.

Khan, of Regent Street, Brierfield, was jailed for a total of four years. He admitted possessing crack cocaine, two counts of possessing heroin, supplying heroin and possessing counterfeit notes.

Hargreaves, of Montrose Street, Brierfield, was given nine months after she pleaded guilty to one allegation of supplying heroin.

Detton, also of Regent Street, Brierfield, received a sentence of two years after she admitted two charges of heroin supply.

Paul Treble, prosecuting, said in September 1998, Khan had on him two pieces of crack cocaine and two counterfeit £20 notes when seen by police in Bingley in Yorkshire. They then found heroin when searching his home.

In May last year, more heroin was found at a house in Nelson.

Last November, an undercover police officer, calling himself Paddy, received a mobile telephone number, called and told the man answering that he needed drugs. Later that day, the officer rang the number again, a woman answered and a possible drugs sale was discussed. He was told to ring back, a woman again answered and told the officer to go to Brierfield.

Mr Treble said "Paddy" phoned again and was told to go to a gym in Brierfield. He did and Khan, in exchange for £50, handed over a bag of heroin of 14 per cent purity and £5 in change.

The following day, Paddy phoned the number, it was again answered by a woman and when he phoned back, he was again told to go to Brierfield, this time to an alley at the back of Regent Street. The officer gave Khan £20 and in return got a bag of heroin.

Two days later, Paddy and another officer phoned the number, a woman answered and they were told to go the back of Regent Street.

This time, Hargreaves approached, called out the name Paddy and a bag of powder was handed over and the officer parted with £45.

Mr Treble said more calls were made and answered by a woman and police were again directed to Brierfield. Detton went over and a bag of heroin was bought for £45. She was also involved in a second deal at the same location and some of exchanges involving the defendants were recorded.

In February this year all three were arrested.