A STREET heroin seller fell foul of a police crackdown on low level drug dealing blighting an area, a court heard.

Two undercover police officers, posing as drug users, were pointed to Jason Cooper as someone regularly able to supply controlled substances in Newport Road and surrounding parts of Middlesbrough.

Durham Crown Court heard that the officers, ‘Nicky’ and ‘Kim’, were deployed as part of Operation Linen, an attempt to curb crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, last spring.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said it had become a “hot spot” for low level offending, much drug related, including a large amount of acquisitive crime committed by users to pay for their habit.

On a subsequent visit to purchase drugs, an undercover officers was told by Cooper if she ever wanted heroin on an evening, to ring him, as he was available “24/7”, providing her with a mobile phone number linked to an address in Selbourne Street, where he was living.

Miss Masters said the officer rang Cooper on May 11, requesting a £10 heroin deal, reminding him of his “24/7” pledge.

He told them he would be with them in ten minutes, when he emerged from Union Street, handing over a small bag of heroin in exchange for a £10 payment.

Miss Masters said similar purchases were made from him over the following two days, while Cooper was subsequently observed using a key to enter the address in Selbourne Street.

A search warrant was later activated at the terraced house, and both Cooper and partner Sharleen Holliday were found in the bedroom.

Several bags were recovered by police and Cooper’s mobile phone was found to contain a message indicative of drug dealing.

Miss Masters said a strip search of Holliday uncovered a children’s chocolate egg containing a total of 28 £10 or £20 heroin deals.

Several pieces of paper were found bearing both their home and mobile telephone numbers.

Cooper made no comment in interview, while Holliday admitted possessing the drugs, but for their personal use.

But, at court, 44-year-old Cooper admitted three counts of supplying, and one each of possession with intent to supply and offering to supply, all involving a class A drug.

Holliday, 35, admitted a single count of allowing her premises to be used for the supply of a class A drug.

The court heard both have previous offences for possessing drugs with intent to supply, as well as simple possession.

Andrew Teate, for Cooper, said his dealing was not to fund a lavish lifestyle, but merely to repay his debts to drug suppliers and to help meet his own use of heroin.

Rupert Doswell, for Holliday, said the drugs found on her belonged to Cooper and were for their personal use, but she is now taking a heroin substitute to try to wean her off the habit.

Jailing Cooper for 40-months, Judge Deborah Sherwin sentenced Holliday to an 18-month community supervision order, including 20 days of activity work with the Probation Service.

She also ordered forfeiture and destruction of all drugs and other paraphernalia seized in the operation.