A HEROIN addict who helped deal drugs to undercover police, has gone to prison for the first time.

Liam Mannion, 35, was sent down for 15 months by Judge Raymond Bennett, who told him what he had done was a serious matter.

Mannion, of Musbury Avenue, Helmshore admitted supplying heroin and conspiracy to supply the drug.

David Pickup, prosecuting, told Burnley Crown Court Mannion was arrested as part of the drugs operation codenamed Fortune in the Rossendale area. An undercover officer met Mannion in the back of a police van, as if he had been arrested. They had a conversation and the defendant offered to supply the officer with drugs. Mannion gave the undercover officer a phone number.

Later on, the defendant received a phone call and Mannion "facilitated" the supply of two bags of heroin.

The defendant also received a call from the undercover officer, asking for three £10 bags of heroin. Arrangements were made to travel to a car park in Bacup to meet another man and six foil wraps of heroin were passed through the window of a car.

Michael Lavery, defending, said Mannion was the facilitator of drug deals with the undercover officer. When the officer was in the police van, he looked to the defendant as if he was withdrawing from heroin and he believed they had a common interest. Mannion believed the officer was an addict like he then was. At no stage did he know the man was an undercover officer, or Mannion would not obviously have acted like he did. He introduce the officer to suppliers higher up the chain, and for his trouble, received a £10 bag of drugs.

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