A MOTHER whose family has been torn apart by drugs is calling for tougher prison sentences for dealers.

Brenda Dalziell's heroin addict son Christopher, 25, was jailed for nine years last week at Teesside Crown Court after carrying out a series of armed robberies to fund his habit.

Mrs Dalziell, 52, claims her son was forced into crime by dealers on the Grove Hill estate in Middlesbrough.

Now she has collected hundreds of signatures and sent them to Home Secretary David Blunkett, demanding no bail and harsher sentences for drug dealers.

"Drugs have destroyed my family completely," she said yesterday. "Chrissy had a dealer on his back round here. He was getting threats.

"Prison is not the answer for him. People like him need help and they are not getting it."

The widow and mother-of-eight, who was born and brought up on the estate, says it is now a haven for drug users and dealers.

Her son has been convicted of numerous drug-related offences but came out of prison and returned to the same streets to be targeted by dealers.

"There's not a street, road or avenue free of drugs. They are so easy to come by.

"I don't want anywhere for drug dealers to hide. There should be no bail and sentences to fit the crime.

"The courts have got to start doing their job. Judges want to get off their thrones and open their eyes."

Mrs Dalziell wants a drop-in centre on the estate where addicts can get counselling and exchange needles.

"My son came out of prison and received no help. I have seen Chrissy reeling on the floor in agony, needing heroin.

"What they (addicts) do is wrong when they steal or whatever. But it's the dealers who are really to blame."