A HARD DRUGS dealer started to cry when caught red-handed trying to trade in heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of East Lancashire, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Paul Freeman, then 20, insisted drugs and a mobile phone had been thrust upon him when he was cornered by police officers in Accrington, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Freeman, now 22, was spotted acting suspiciously in a Vauxhall Astra with two other men, Amar Ahmed, 24, and driver John Nicholson.

Sara Dodd, prosecuting, said when officers approached the vehicle Nicholson drove off towards Higher Antley Street. One of the passengers, Freeman jumped out of the car and was found by police hiding behind a parked car.

Ms Dodd said: “He started to cry and said the mobile telephone and the drugs in his hands didn’t belong to him.”

The court heard he had crack cocaine with a street value of £880 and heroin valued at £220 on him when he was arrested. Nicholson was detained after the car pulled up nearby.

Freeman, of Laithe Street, Burnley, and Nicholson, 30, of Ecclestone Street, Accrington, each admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of both drugs. Nicholson also pleaded guilty to careless driving.

Judge Beverley Lunt jailed Freeman for 30 months and gave Nicholson a 12-month community order, with a nine-month drugs rehabilitation requirement.

Ahmed, 24, of Higher Antley Street, Accrington, admitted to the same drugs charges and was remanded in custody to be sentenced on September 5, after Judge Lunt rules on how serious his dealing was.

Robert Kearney, for Ahmed, said his client had a reading age of six and he was not the most serious drug dealer of his kind.