A TEENAGE drug pusher who took out a bank loan to finance his dealing has been sent to custody for two years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Darren Feeney, 19, who also attacked a man with a piece of wood, had made up to £800 profit. His former cohabitee, Lita Ellis, 18, who supplied her brother with drugs twice, escaped a term of detention.

Sentencing the pair, Judge David Pirie said Feeney had supplied quite substantial quantities of cannabis and also had a nine ounce block of the drug which he was planning to sell. He said Ellis had shared in control of the cannabis, but the element of control was limited.

Feeney, of Sheridan Road, Laneshawbridge, had admitted supplying cannabis resin between January and March, and possessing the drug with intent to supply. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Ellis, of Carr Road, Colne, had admitted supplying cannabis resin and possessing the drug. She was given 80 hours community service.

Richard Orme, prosecuting, told the court police searched the home the defendants then shared and found a nine ounce block of cannabis resin beneath the cushion of the armchair. Both were arrested, Feeney said the block was his and he had bought it for £500. He said he had been dealing for just over two months, had got through five to six blocks and made between £500 and £840 profit. He had taken out a bank loan to subsidise it.

On another occasion, Feeney hit victim Richard Whalley with a two-and-a-half feet long piece of wood in Colne. Mr Whalley, who had known the defendant about two years, bled heavily and had to have five stitches in his forehead.

Roger Baldwin, for Feeney, said the defendant, a former fork lift truck driver, had never been to custody before. Feeney had supplied to a limited circle of friends and didn't go out and hawk drugs. Both he and Ellis had been cannabis smokers. Mr Whalley had been goading Feeney into fighting with him after an earlier incident between Feeney's cousin and Mr Whalley in a nightclub. Mr Whalley believed Feeney was involved and went to punch Feeney who picked up the stick from a building site, went over to Mr Whalley and hit him once. He appreciated it was wrong. Feeney had since shaken hands with the victim and apologised.

Paul Hague, defending Ellis, said she had twice supplied cannabis to her brother. She had been a cannabis user for some time, but had not used it since her arrest. She was a very frightened young woman and he asked the court to pass a non-custodial sentence.

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