A DRUG addict who turned to dealing to fund his habit has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Donovan Moore was caught by an undercover police officer who was operating in Darlington to disrupt the supply of drugs in the town.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the officer was introduced to Moore by another drug user who took him to his home on Barningham Street to purchase drugs.

The officer then returned on two further occasions to buy more heroin off the 45-year-old.

Mr Towers told Teesside Crown Court how the defendant was at the bottom of the supply chain for drugs.

Moore, of Gilling Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty to concerned in the supply of heroin and two counts of supply heroin from December 2018.

Chris Morrison, in mitigation, agreed that his client was only selling drugs to fund his own addiction.

He said Moore had indicated his guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity.

Judge Recorder Jamie Hill QC sentenced him to 18-months in prison, suspended for two years.

He said: "I understand there has been a lot happened in your life since this happened almost three years ago.

"I know you have had some extraordinary challenges to overcome and you are dealing with that.

"Clearly, you are old enough to know how seriously the court takes any sort of dealing of Class A drugs. It was unusual as you were reliant on the people at that address for accommodation."