A CHRONIC addict who was dealing heroin and crack cocaine stored in a car parked in a Nelson street has been jailed for five years.

Imran Hussain, 28, who had been spotted by plain clothes police fiddling with something and then leaving the vehicle, claimed drugs found on him were for his own personal use.

He then "concocted a story", telling a jury he had found them wrapped in a cigarette packet he had taken them off some children whilst watching a football match.

He later claimed they had been left in the car by a dealer but said he had not wanted to give that evidence at trial, for fear of recrimination, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, who blew an £8,000 bank loan entirely on drugs in one year, was a regular user of crack cocaine by 2009.

He was said by the prosecution to be higher up the chain than a low level street dealer and the car was not registered in his name so if it was found by police, the drugs would not be traced to him. He had parked his own vehicle nearby and walked to the Golf.

Hussain, of Edge End Avenue, Brierfield, was found guilty of possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply in June last year.

He denied the allegations and was said to still protest his innocence.

Katherine Pierpoint, for Hussain, said he had not found the last 42 days on remand easy and was worried about the effects on his family.

Hussain was now said to be drug-free. He had already enrolled on an IT course and intended to use his time in custody positively.