POLICE attending a domestic disturbance were handed a drugs haul after a student jumped on a chair, reached into the loft and gave them a carrier bag.

Burnley Crown Court heard that officers had not suspected any drugs were in the house and babysitter Paul Kershaw, 23, was promptly arrested.

Kershaw's counsel described him as naive and said he had kept bursting in tears before his appearance in the dock.

He walked free from court after a judge told him it was said confession was good for the soul -- and it had been good for him. Recorder Philip Butler, who said the defendant could have gone to jail for up to 14 years, added Kershaw should never ever have come before a court and he accepted he had been naive in the extreme.

The judge went on to say it was the community which suffered from drugs and the punishment for the defendant should mean the community would benefit.

He added it was because naive people like him kept drugs safe that wicked people were able to ply their evil trade. The defendant, of Oakfield Avenue, Huncoat, was given 150 hours community service after admitting possessing amphetamine with intent to supply. He had been committed for sentence by Hyndburn magistrates.

Kendal Lindley, prosecuting, said the circumstances in which the 284 grammes of amphetamine were found were bizarre.

Police were called to a domestic incident where three young men were arguing outside a house. Officers persuaded them to go inside and one of them became agitated and started talking about amphetamine. Police had no suspicions any drugs were in the property but Kershaw jumped on a chair, reached into the loft for a plastic bag and told them it contained drugs. Mr Lindley said the defendant was promptly arrested. Anthony Cross, defending, said the offence came to light in rather exceptional circumstances.

"Somebody had taken advantage of the defendant's naivety and it was perhaps because the drugs had a relatively low value they were simply left in the loft and not collected for three months."