A MAN remains in a coma in hospital more than a year after suffering an adverse reaction while taking heroin, a court heard.

Homeless Brendan Bryant, who was living at a Newcastle hostel, showed signs of being unwell after injecting the class A drug along with two friends in July last year.

Durham Crown Court was told his friends walked him round to try to keep him conscious after calling for an ambulance.

But, by the time it arrived, Mr Bryant lapsed into unconsciousness and on arrival at hospital he was, "beyond the point of making any sensible recovery".

Ian Graham, prosecuting, said more than 13 months on, Mr Bryant remains in a permanent coma at Hunter's Moor Hospital, Newcastle.

Mr Graham was speaking during the appearance of 37-year-old David Gordon Stoker, another homeless man, who arranged for the purchase of the heroin from a dealer in Sunderland when approached by Mr Bryant and another man, whom he previously befriended at the hostel.

Stoker, described as a familiar figure begging in Sunderland, was jailed for three years, after admitting being involved in the supply of heroin and possession of the class A drug.

Paul Cross, mitigating, said Stoker was simply, "the facilitator".