A MAN who admitted selling heroin and amphetamines on the streets of East Lancashire has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Martin Haggan, 44, of New Wellington Street, Blackburn, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court but the men who supplied him with the amphetamines were given suspended sentences. A fourth man who admitted growing cannabis in his Blackburn home was given a community order.

The court heard how on May 15, 2015, police carried out a drugs warrant at a house in Rossall Terrace, Blackburn.

Prosecuting, Richard English said nobody was present at the time of the raid but police found possessions in two bedroom to suggest Craig Margerison was living in one and his father William Margerison, 55, was living in the other.

In the small upstairs bedroom police found 10 cannabis plants and a grow tent.

Mr English said police searched the kitchen and found 1,581 grams of amphetamine, with a purity of five per cent in the fridge, 1.69 grams on a worktop, 0.88 grams in a tub on a worktop.

The court heard Craig Margerison’s fingerprints and those of his co-defendant Ashley Talbot were found on dealer lists and scales also found in the room.

Police also found various containers with cannabis inside, the court heard.

The court heard that if sold on the street the amphetamines could have fetched £15,810 and the cannabis £5,710.

Mr English told the court that on July 25, Craig Margerison and Talbot were both arrested in Blackburn Road, Darwen.

Talbot, 30, of Hollingreave Road, Blackburn, was carrying a Samsung mobile phone, and Craig Margerison, 30, of Rossall Terrace, Blackburn, was in possession of an iPhone. The court heard both phones contained drug related messages.

When police searched the house Talbot was then living in at Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen, they found a wrap of amphetamine, digital and salter scales with traces of amphetamine on them, hand-written dealing lists and a dealing book.

In Craig Margerison’s bedroom officers found £400 in cash.

Mr English said Haggan was arrested on August 5, 2015, as a result of what Craig Margerison told them about him. The court heard Haggan was found in possession of 4.06 grams of heroin, the equivalent of 27 street deals and valued at £270, 6.94 grams of amphetamine valued at £70. At his home they found 16 Subitex tablets.

Text messages on his mobile phone also revealed conversations between him and Craig Margerison around the beginning of August 2015 indicating that Margerison and Talbot were supplying amphetamine to him and he was selling it on to others.

Haggan pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin, possession of amphetamine and possession of Class B drug in relation to the Subitex.

Defending Haggan, Ken Hind saidhis client sold the drugs to fund his own drug habit and attempt to clear his debts.Mr Hind said: “Pressure was put on him and he took what was sadly the easy way out in order to fund his habit and clear his debt.

“He has been in custody for 14 months since his arrest. During that time he has had time to think about what has happened. He deeply regrets what has happened.”

Recorder Sally Hatfield QC sentenced him to 43 months imprisonment.

Craig Margerison pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply amphetamine and production of cannabis. The court heard he had committed those offences during the period of a suspended sentence for handling stolen good.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years and told to complete 140 hours unpaid work. Craig Margerison was also fined £500 for breaching a suspended sentence and £100 for producing the cannabis.

Talbot pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply amphetamine. He also admitted to possessing amphetamine and driving without a valid license or insurance. That was in relation to an incident on June 30, 2015, when he was stopped by police and a bag containing a white powder fell from his trousers.

The court heard he had also committed those offences during the period of a suspended sentence for handling stolen good.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement. Talbot was also fined £500 for breaching the suspended sentence and £100 for producing the cannabis. Nine penalty points were also endorsed on his license.

William Margerison, of Rossall Terrace, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on the basis that it was for his own personal use and was given a 12-month community order and a three-month curfew. meaning He can’t leave his house between 10pm and 8am. He also faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing next year.

A forfeiture and destruction order was also made in relation to all the drugs seized.