A FATHER-OF-THREE caught selling class A drugs from a Pringles tub has been sent back to jail.

Preston Crown Court heard how 33-year-old Matthew Hefford, who has previous convictions for robbery and burglary, was caught red-handed by police selling heroin and crack cocaine.

Prosecuting Karen Brooks said police were on duty in Burnley around lunchtime on March 5 and saw a number of known drug users congregating around an alleyway on Angle Street.

She said: "They suspected the presence of the defendant, who approached the group, had led to a drug transaction taking place.

"As a result of that the defendant was stopped nearby and a search took place. The defendant informed the officer he had something in his pocket which contained Class A drugs and the officer recovered a small Pringles tub. Inside he could see multiple amounts of substance in some plastic.

"He was then searched and found to be in possession of two mobile phones and £228 in cash. He also had a tick list."

Officers found one wrap of cocaine on Hefford when he was further searched at the police station.

Following Hefford's arrest police searched his home in Thorn Street, Burnley, and found rolls of plastic bags, digital scales and two balloons containing wraps of drugs inside a box of porridge. There was also another tick list and mobile phone.

When the items seized were examined it transpired the Pringles tin contained 30 knotted packages containing a total of 16.1 grams of heroin with a 43 per cent purity, and 17 packages containing a total of 6.48 grams of crack cocaine.

The two balloons contained 20 packages with a combined total of 4.37 grams of crack cocaine in them.

The digital scales contained residue of cocaine.

Hefford, who was on licence from prison at the time he committed these offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Defending, Philip Holden said the best mitigation he could advance on his client's behalf was his early guilty plea.

Mr Holden said: "It is plain this defendant has had some problems in the past with his mental health and there is a history of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. He tells me he's in receipt of a number of prescribed drugs whilst he's in custody, dealing with his anxiety issues and his depression.

"Matters are being compounded by the lockdown in Preston Prison as a consequence of the pandemic. Prisoners are literally being given around 15 minutes of exercise a day.

"But he's saying he feels on an even keel in custody, he is drug free he's looking forward ultimately when he is to be released to be re-united with his three children."

Jailing Hefford for 32 months, Judge Simon Medland QC said: "As you will know yourself, not least from your current situation, class A controlled drugs destroy people's lives. They ruin people's health, they break up families, they corode society, they promote organised crime and they do nobody any good. You played your part in March of this year in that trade."