A MAN who was caught with more than £3,000-worth of heroin avoided a prison sentence yesterday.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Dean Carver, 22, was in the car with others in the Seaham Harbour area on Sunday, August 5 last year.

Sean Dodds, prosecuting, said that when police approached the car, Carver, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham, got out, ran and dropped the package.

It was enough heroin for 360 wraps, he said, and was destined to be sold on the streets of Seaham.

In a police interview Carver said that he had got into the car with people he knew, thinking they were going to Middlesbrough to pick up prostitutes.

When they got there one of the men bought drugs and he was told that if the police stopped them he was to take the drugs and run.

He agreed because he had to and he expected to be given a few wraps of heroin in return, he said.

Jane Waugh, for Carver, said he had no previous convictions for drugs offences. She said he had stopped taking drugs and had been in custody for five or six weeks.

Carver admitted a charge of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and Recorder John Norris sentenced him to 100 hours of community service.