A MAN who dealt heroin and crack cocaine to undercover police has been jailed for two and a half years.

Peter Bailey was netted by Operation Hurricane which targeted drug dealing in the Blackburn area.

The 42-year-old of Blackburn Road, Accrington, had been committed for sentence at Preston Crown Court on six counts of supplying Class A drugs and two further counts of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

The court was told that in April and May this year police mounted an operation to target street level drug dealing at Blackburn. Undercover officers were used and covert surveillance tactics employed to record details.

It resulted in 29 people being arrested.

Mr Neil Standage, prosecuting, said on several occasions Bailey was seen to deal heroin and also crack cocaine to undercover police.

Mr Richard Hunt, defending, said that Bailey had led a law abiding life for 20 years.

But this had been followed by a marriage breakdown and the defendant eventually becoming involved in taking crack cocaine.

Mr Hunt said: "He became involved at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"He has now rid himself of all involvement with drugs. This was a bad time in his life. He has put that behind him."

Judge David Boulton said he accepted Bailey had been genuine in trying to live a law-abiding life. He had also kept out of trouble previously for 20 years.

But he also told him: "A lengthy prison sentence is inevitable."