A DRUG supplier who raided his mother's home has started a five-year jail term.

Jason Pilkington, 25, who had previous convictions for supplying LSD and Ecstasy, had broken away from his addiction, but lapsed. He sold heroin to friends and acquaintances who were already addicts, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Pilkington, of Varley Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply and supplying the class A controlled drug. He was also committed for sentence by magistrates, after being convicted of burglary and a bail offence.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said when police went to a house in Colne, Pilkington tried to escape through a skylight. Near to him was a silver foil wrap of 4.18 grammes of heroin.

In the attic was the "paraphernalia" of drug abuse, spoons, cutting agents, a mirror, and blade.Pilkington said he had been at the property intending to deal in drugs to feed his own habit. He told officers he would give heroin to friends and the amount found would provide 45 wraps at £10 each.

Mr Lamberty said Pilkington took £110 cash from his mother's home while she was asleep. He claimed he could not remember the offence because he was a heavy drug user. When charged, he said: "I'm sorry, mum."

Mark Stuart, defending, said Pilkington sold drugs to feed his own habit. He did not sell on the street, but to "hardened users," and never to anybody he did not know.

Pilkington had come out of custody, got full-time employment and a decent relationship, but after losing his job and his family, he started seeing his former friends.His home became a "doss house," and he should have had the courage to refuse drugs, but he did not.

Mr Stuart added: "Within a short time, he was again addicted and started to stay with addicts. He took more and more drugs." He added Pilkington came from a decent family and was deeply and truly sorry for burgling his parents' home.

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