AN addict who has made lengthy efforts to overcome his heroin habit, was caught with a large amount of the class A drug for supplying to others, a court heard.

Michael Bulmer, who admitted selling heroin among a small number of users in the Chester-le-Street area over a few months late last year, was given a three-year prison sentence at Durham Crown Court.

Penny Bottomley, prosecuting, said the former Nissan factory car worker was stopped while at the wheel of a silver Vauxhall Vectra, in Chester-le-Street, at 8.45am on December 21 last year.

A search of the car revealed eight wraps of heroin in his jacket pocket, which was seized by officers, along with his mobile phone.

The heroin had a combined weight of 24.6 grams, worth about £1,320 in street sale terms.

Miss Bottomley said text messages on the phone were indicative of arranging to supply heroin users, between September and December last year, with details of amounts for purchase and where he would deliver around the town.

He initially claimed the heroin was for his own personal use, and not for supply.

But, at a plea hearing at the court last week, 34-year-old Bulmer, of The Avenue, Chester-le-Street, admitted possessing the class A drug with intent to supply.

The court heard he has a previous conviction for possessing heroin and cannabis, in 2002.

Miss Bottomley said it was considered that he played, “a significant role” in the sale of the drug, “for financial gain.”

David Carmichael, mitigating, said Bulmer began using heroin from the age of 16, due to, “peer pressure”.

“Apparently, he went to buy cannabis, but was offered heroin, instead.”

Mr Carmichael said he made strenuous efforts to rid himself of his habit some years ago, beginning a methadone programme, but relapsed after a family tragedy.

He initially began dealing among, “a few close friends”, to help meet the cost of his own habit, but, since his arrest he has again taken strides to rid himself of his addiction, re-starting a methadone programme.

Mr Carmichael said his efforts to steer clear of heroin have cost him a few friends, who he has purposefully tried to avoid to prevent another relapse.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince told Bulmer that he, above most people, should know of the harm caused by heroin addiction, and yet he was helping others to perpetuate their own use of the drug.

The judge ordered confiscation of the Astra car in which Bulmer was stopped while carrying the heroin.