A DRUG-DEALER who was caught selling class A drugs in a town centre by eagle-eyed CCTV operators has been jailed.

Saul Kristian Tootle, 24, of Canterbury Street, Blackburn, was found to be in possession of heroin and crack cocaine after operators reported seeing him drug-dealing in the town centre.

Police followed him and found Class A drugs with a street value of £690 hidden in a plastic egg. He appeared in Preston Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. He was sentenced to 15 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170.

Paul Cummings, prosecuting, told the court that when Tootle was arrested he was the subject of a community order issued for battery against his father in November of 2017.

Defending, Anthony Parkinson said his client’s behaviour had ‘spiralled out of control’ following the death of his mother from breast cancer in 2015. It was at this time, said Mr Parkinson, that Tootle started to drink heavily and use cocaine, causing him to fall out with his family.

He said: “He was extremely close with his mother and took her death very badly. His life began to spiral out of control and he started using alcohol and cocaine.

“My client then found himself living on the streets. He started to mix in circles with criminals. It comes as little surprise that by April he was dealing drugs.”

Mr Parkinson said that while Tootle had committed offences including battery against his father and brother, a reconciliation had taken place and he now had a stable home.

Recorder Simon Earlam said that while he took his mother’s death into consideration, he couldn’t overlook the fact he knew Tootle was ‘dabbling with cocaine’ before her death in 2015 as his record revealed a caution for possession of the drug pre-dating her death.

He said: “Your father and brother fell-out with you over your drink and drug use and you battered them.”

He continued: “You were subject to negative influences when living in a hostel and you succumbed to the temptation of dealing on the streets because you were short of money.”