A HEROIN addict who inadvertently supplied a fatal dose of methadone was yesterday jailed for two years.

David Bellerby gave some of both his and his girlfriend's prescribed heroin-substitute to a caller at the door of his home in Peterlee.

But both were under the impression that it was to assist the then girlfriend of a friend, Eric King, who they were told was, "in a state".

Durham Crown Court heard that it was, in fact, taken by Mr King, who had just separated from his girlfriend.

Mr King, 26, was found dead in the bedroom at his godmother's home in Peterlee, on August 10 last year.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said forensic analysis revealed a potentially fatal dose of methadone in his system.

Empty methadone capsules prescribed to 25-year-old Bellerby and his girlfriend were found in the room by Mr King's godmother.

Bellerby, of Keswick Road, Peterlee, previously admitted a charge of supplying a class A drug.

Don MacFaul, for Bellerby, said he handed over the methadone believing it was for Mr King's then girlfriend, a known heroin user.

Mr MacFaul said Bellerby and his girlfriend believed Mr King "hated the stuff".

He said: "Either way, he could not have contemplated the use to which the methadone was put, nor the tragic outcome. It was a misguided act on his behalf."

Mr MacFaul added that Bellerby, who has now split from his girlfriend, is on a methadone programme.

Jailing Bellerby, Judge Peter Armstrong told him: "You, no doubt, will have this on your consciousness for the rest of your life. Methadone is a class A drug because it is potentially fatal, and that's what happened in this case.

Giving away bottles of methadone is the most risky and stupid thing to do, because you have no control."