A LANCASTER heroin supplier is starting a five year term of imprisonment after admitting various drug offences.

Paul McAllister, 26, was caught by police with two friends outside a house in Shakespeare Road, Lancaster, in November last year.

Preston Crown Court heard that he had heroin on him and a subsequent search of the house revealed more of his drugs.

In total, police found heroin to the street value £4,000 in the house belonging to McAllister.

At Preston Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and being concerned with the supply of heroin, he was jailed for five years.

He also admitted possession of heroin and methadone.

In the dock with him stood heroin users Tracey Cook, 32, and partner Gareth Banton, 30. Both admitted possession of heroin and received 12 month probation.

The house at Shakespeare Road was found to contain 52.8g of 30 per cent purity heroin belonging to McAllister.

Bags of heroin were found concealed in chair arms and under the settee. Cook admitted possession of two of the bags in the arms of the chair.

Methadone tablets were also found. All three defendants were from Whiteray Road, Lancaster.

Mr Simon Burrows, defending, said: "This is a defendant whose history has been heavily compromised by drugs and the drug scene.

He said that McAllister had started smoking cannabis at the age of 12 and had been influenced by his older brother who was involved in the drug scene.

Mr Keith Thomas, defending for Cook and Banton, said the two were living together as a couple and at one point had given up drugs altogether.

Recorder Roger Hedgeland told McAllister: "I am absolutely bound to pass custodial sentence."

Talking about drugs supply he said: "It leads to degradation. It leads to crime."

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