A HEROIN dealer has been jailed after he was caught with more than £2,000 worth of the Class A drug.

Craig Beasley was in possession of 35 grams of the drug when police raided his Darlington home in July last year.

The 24-year-old street dealer had some of the drug cut up into deals but there was 27 gram individual block of 'low grade' heroin stashed in his home.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said: "Officers attended Outram Street, Darlington, Mr Beasley was in the kitchen, he indicated that there were drugs in the house.

"A search took place and recovered from the house in total was 35 grams of low purity heroin which had a street value of £2,280.

"Some of the heroin was rapped in deals but the majority was a large 27 gram block, also recovered were some scales and £180 in cash."

Teesside Crown Court heard how Beasley had been 'groomed' by more sophisticated criminals to become involved in dealing to fund his own habit.

Beasley, of Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply.

Stephen Hamill, in mitigation, accepted that his client had not always worked well with the probation service to address his offending but is aware he is facing custody.

He said: "This has been the fright of his life, to put it bluntly."

Recorder Tony Hawks had adjourned the sentencing to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be compiled but was left unimpressed with Beasley's efforts.

He said: "I accept it is towards the bottom end of the scale but you were involved in street dealing heroin.

"I don't expect that you were doing much more than funding your own habit and you may have been manipulated by people more sophisticated than you."

Beasley was jailed for 18 months.

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