A DEALER caught selling heroin to a 56-year-old addict has been jailed for five years and seven months.

Police say that this was Peter Barry’s fourth like offence and “he had clearly not learnt his lesson”.

PC Matthew Nodden was the officer on the case and explained how the 46-year-old defendant, of Rodney Street, Barrow, was spotted dealing behind the King’s Arms pub in Barrow on October 22.

Barry appeared before Preston Crown Court on November 22 and admitted supplying a controlled drug of Class A to Lynne Corkhill and on another occasion between August 31 and October 22 to another person. He was also caught in possession of criminal property, namely £575 in cash.

Corkhill, of Oxford Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to having a £20 bag of diamorphine on her when stopped by police.

She appeared at Furness Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday. She was fined £180 and told to pay a £20 victim surcharge. She must also pay £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a criminal court charge of £180.

PC Nodden said: “It was about midday on October 22 when Barry was spotted by an officer. He was seen to to make an exchange with a known drug user (Corkhill) and was later stopped in the car park of B&M Bargains having boarded a taxi.

“He was found to have a large amount of money on him and other evidence relating to drug supply. Later, evidence on Barry from his home address showed that he had been active in the supply of Class A drugs over the last couple of months. After an investigation by South Cumbria Targeting Unit Barry was charged.”

The officer added that Barry was sentenced to 2,054 days in prison. The court ordered that the drugs and the money be destroyed and he was told to pay a £120 victim surcharge and £900 in court costs.

PC Nodden added: “Clearly, Barry had not learnt his lesson from the previous times he had been sentenced and will now spend a considerable time in custody.

“This substantial sentence clearly shows that the courts take these offences seriously. Supplying drugs in south Cumbria will not be tolerated and officers will actively target those responsible.”