A MAN who was given the heroin-substitute methadone by a neighbour was found dead the following day, a court heard.

Carl Henry called at the home shared by Ernest Walker and partner Stephanie Howe, late on April 4, asking if they could “sort” him with heroin.

Durham Crown Court was told that Walker suggested Mr Henry could have some of Howe’s prescribed methadone.

David Wilkinson, prosecuting, told the court she had more than her usual daily prescription of methadone as it was a bank holiday weekend.

“As they said they could not supply Mr Henry with heroin, Walker suggested he could have some methadone, which was in the fridge.”

Mr Wilkinson said Mr Henry was found dead the following day after falling asleep on the settee at the nearby house where he lived with his mother.

The court heard it appears he died from a much larger dose of methadone than that given by Howe and Walker.

Both Walker, 39, and 41-year-old Howe, of Thorpe Street, Easington Colliery, County Durham, admitted supplying a class A drug.

The court heard that Walker has two previous convictions for supplying class A drugs, which put him at risk of a possible seven-year jail term under sentencing guidelines.

Ron Mitchell, mitigating, told the court: “When Mr Henry turned up at their house begging for drugs, Walker suggested to Howe he could have the methadone.

“They had only 15ml of it and an expert’s report shows a concentration in Mr Henry’s blood consistent with a larger dose.

“He must have got some more from somewhere else that night.”

A letter was read to the hearing from Mr Henry’s sister, Claire Louise Henry, who was not in court.

She said the family knew he drank too much, but she believed he was not a habitual drug user and they found his loss difficult to bear.

Jailing Walker for four years, Judge Esmond Faulks told him he could rein back on the potential seven-year sentence.

“I take the view that seven years is aimed at much largerscale dealers than you, those who make significant commercial gains.

“But there does still have to be a substantial prison sentence in your case.”

The judge told Howe that her life was being ruined by drug use.

“You have got to put a stop to the drug taking and I’m prepared to give you one last chance to do it.”

He imposed a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which she must undergo a drug rehabilitation course.