A WOMAN and her neighbour were drug-dealing rivals vying for customers, a court heard yesterday.

Jane Leonard was dealing heroin from her Redcar flat, Teesside Crown Court was told, as was one of her neighbours.

Leonard, 22, told undercover police officers that she was "available 24-7" to sell drugs, quoted them a price list and said she was selling "quality gear".

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said Leonard admitted five charges of selling heroin.

He said on April 24, two undercover officers had gone to the flat at Westbourne Grove and on their first visit, former prostitute Leonard showed them a bag of about 20 different wraps.

She told them she charged £15 for two bags and was available day or night for the sale of drugs, giving them a mobile number on which to contact her.

The second time the officers visited, Leonard took heroin from a bag of about 40 wraps. Other test purchases were made from that address, he said.

Three other men have yet to be sentenced for similar offences, he said.

Mr Sabiston said on other occasions when officers went to the flats, another man shouted to them from another flat and told them he was selling drugs and that they should buy from him instead.

Ray Priest, for Leonard, said she had no previous convictions for drugs and was merely a retailer, "not part of the upper chain at all".

She had had a tragic life and sold drugs to feed her heroin habit, he said.

Judge Peter Fox QC said Leonard was a drugs peddler who had faced competition from a rival peddler next door.

He said Redcar had a "particular and grave" heroin problem, and jailed her for four years.