NAIVE 15 and 16-year-olds are being recruited as heroin runners by ‘wicked’ dealers in East Lancashire – because they are more likely to remain on the streets even after their arrest.

Prosecutor Stephen Parker outlined the practice to Burnley Crown Court at a sentencing hearing for a 16-year-old boy, who was arrested no fewer than three times for operating as a courier for more senior dealers.

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He said: “The police information is that the dealers are targetting these people because they are, if they are arrested, more likely to get bail than an adult and more likely to be dealt with more leniently, and more likely to be in a position to be back out on the streets dealing drugs.”

He told the court the youngsters were usually paid around £20 per day for their services, But Mr Parker said it was apparent that the teenager in the dock was more trusted, as he was caught carrying around half an ounce of heroin at a time, which would then have been broken down into £10 or £20 deals.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a six-month detention and training order after he admitted to three offences of possession of heroin with intent to supply.

Passing sentence, Judge Graham Knowles QC said the ‘immature’ teenager, who was not particularly assertive, had been prevailed upon by ‘wicked men’ to act as a drug runner.

Judge Knowles told the youth: “What drugs are about is money, and certainly the benefits go to the people who were showing off to you, with their cars, wads of money.

“It could be attractive to young men like you, boys like you.”

But the dealers who preyed on youngsters like the defendant were “kept safe” by their junior recruits, the judge said.

Nick Dearing, defending, said the teenager was ‘naive’ and had been subjected to ‘low-level coercion’.

If he had sought assistance from the authorities after his first arrest then his position may have been different, the court heard.