A man who with his partner dealt heroin to users of the class A drug from their home has received a suspended prison sentence.

But Durham Crown Court was told defendant Andrew Gleaves has spent more than a year in custody since his arrest and before the sentence was passed, on Friday (July 19).

The 46-year-old offender admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of heroin on the day of his scheduled trial, having previously admitted possessing criminal property, money made from the sale of the drug.

He also admitted a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, arising from a previous, unrelated incident.

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The court was told the drug offence has had, “something of a stormy history”, as both Gleaves and partner Chantelle Malcolm were originally, wrongly, charged with being concerned in the supply of amphetamine after a mistaken identification of the drug in question.

They both admitted the charge at the court in August last year, but when the error over the drug came to light, Gleaves changed his plea, only reverting to his guilty plea when he was about to go trial.

Sam Ponniah, prosecuting, said police executed a search warrant at their home in Horden's numbered streets, on July 14 last year.

Mr Ponniah said Gleaves and Malcolm were present along with several other people, “who the prosecution would say were drug users”.

A bag was found behind the sofa containing £502 which was considered to have been the proceeds from sale of the drug.

Mr Ponniah said bags containing half-ounce deals of heroin were also recovered, with an estimated value in street sale terms of £2,200.

A phone also seized contained what appeared to be dealer lists, plus messages indicative of the supply of drugs.

Among other items recovered by police from the premises was a “zombie” knife.

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When arrested the pair made “no comment” replies to all questions.

Mr Ponniah said the assault charge related to a craft knife attack on a man, “who had been having issues with the defendant”, in his home in Shotton Colliery, dating back to January 2021.

It ended and Gleaves and his accomplices left when the partner of the victim began to phone the police.

Mr Ponniah said the victim, who has refused to assist with the prosecution, was fortunate to receive only superficial injuries.

The court heard the defendant’s plea to the drugs matter was made on the basis that Gleaves was only assisting his partner, which was not challenged by the prosecution.

Chris Morrison, for Gleaves, said any previous dealing activity on his behalf was of some vintage now.

He said the defendant has spent more than a year in custody, while his co-accused, 34-year-old Malcolm, received a 12-month community order, with a year-long drug rehabilitation condition and 45 days working with the Probation Service, when she was sentenced, in September last year, having had her first two-month taste of custody.

Judge Jo Kidd, who passed sentence on Malcolm, said: “It’s an unusual case with an unusual history.

“The sentence in respect of Miss Malcolm seems to cause me to make a downward adjustment in respect of the appropriate level of sentence as far as Mr Gleaves is concerned.

“However, he does have significant previous convictions which, on balance, clearly make this pass the custody threshold.

“In light of the progress I’m told he has made in a custodial environment, particularly his progress addressing his drug issues in that time on remand, I can pass a suspended sentence order, but for the maximum period.”

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She passed a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, during which Gleaves must undertake 30 rehabilitation activity days and undergo a 26-day accredited programme, both overseen by the Probation Service.

He was also made subject of monthly drug rehabilitation reviews before Judge Kidd at the court.

She warned him that any breaches of the order would see him back before the court, at risk of all or part of the prison sentence being activated.