A COUPLE enrolled the help of a babysitter to look after their children while they ran a drugs den - paying her wages in heroin.

Keith and Justine Robinson supplied Amanda Barnes with heroin in exchange for taking care of their three children while they dealt drugs to at least 20 customers a day from their home.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how they were caught when police set up covert observations outside their address in Canon Cockin Street, Sunderland, over six weeks between March and April this year.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said: "There were an average of 20 callers per day during the observations, which lasted eight hours each day. A number of them were known drug users."

When police raided the property they found little in way of drugs, but recovered scales and mobile telephones.

After their arrest, it became clear that Justine Robinson had swallowed 12.6g which had a street value of between £900 and £1,200.

Justine Robinson, 26, and Keith Robinson, 28, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin.

Amanda Barnes, 33, admitted supplying the class A drug on one occasion when she was looking after the children.

The Robinsons, who defence barristers say turned to drug dealing to fund their own habits, were both jailed for three years and nine months.

Barnes was jailed for 18 months.

* Ian Wilson, 36, of Adelaide Close, Sunderland, admitted supplying one wrap of heroin to a customer. He was jailed for 15 months.