A FACTORY worker who returned to drug dealing after more than a decade on the straight and narrow has been jailed for seven years.

Babbar Baig was jailed for more than four years as a 20-year-old in 2006 after he was caught red-handed preparing hard drugs for sale with an accomplice.

But after his release he found employment in the logistics section at Accrol in Blackburn, had got married and had four children, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Defence counsel Oliver Jarvis said his client's problems began when he became estranged from his wife and he slipped back into the drugs world.

Prosecutor Benjamin Lawrence said police carried out a search warrant at his home in Accrington on August 6 and found an array of different drugs.

Cocaine weighing around 200 grams, with a street value of around £25,000 was seized, along with 20 grams of heroin, the court heard.

Officers also recovered a stun gun, which had been disguised as a torch, as well as 493 steroid tablets and a quantity of the anxiety medication Xanax.

Baig, 32, of Howard Close, Accrington, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin, with intent to supply, and possession of a disguised firearm.

He also admitted to possession of 369 grams of cannabis and two charges of possession of class C drugs.

Mr Lawrence said that police also recovered a mobile phone, which contained a number of text messages indicating the defendant had been involved in selling drugs.

Jailing him, Judge Andrew Jefferies QC said: "There is one aggravating conviction, for supplying class A drugs.

"I note that was some 12 years ago and I have got no reason, after what your counsel has said, that in the interim you gained employment, which is reflected by the absence of any convictions in the meantime.

"You had children as well and you were able to provide support for your family.

"It seems that you did get your life back on track.

"But by these offences you became involved in drugs again."

The judge said he accepted the disguised firearm was 'part of the armoury' he kept at his home, as part of his drug dealing.

Mr Jarvis said the defendant had now reconciled with his wife and she had visited him while he had been on remand.

Speaking after the hearing 

Det Sgt Martin Kennedy said: “This is a great result against a prolific drug supplier in the Accrington area and the significant sentence should serve as a warning to others engaged in the supply of illegal drugs.

“We will continue to proactively target those who deal drugs in Lancashire and to put them before the courts but we also need the help of our communities to do this effectively. If anyone has concerns or information about drug dealing where they live they should contact us on 101 or speak to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”