A FATHER caught with a heroin stash worth almost £1,000 set to be sold in Burnley has walked free from court.

Addict Farmez Khan, 51, had drugs on him, down his sock and in a car when police, who recognised him, stopped him in the town, last October, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Khan, who has two grown up children and a baby, wiped away tears as a judge told him it was "shocking" to see him in court.

Recorder Robert Shaw, who said heroin was the scourge of society, said: "What your family must think of their father and husband getting involved in this, goodness only knows."

The defendant, now of Brantwood Oval, Bradford, had admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply. He was given 52 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, with a nine month drug rehabilitation requirement, 12 months supervision and the addressing substance related offending programme.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said plain clothes police followed Khan into a back street at the rear of Rectory Road.

He was stopped and searched, struggled, was taken to the floor and was parva sprayed. He was eventually restrained and handcuffed and 10 silver foil wraps scattered at his feet.

Mr Parker said more wraps were found in a bag and when his car was searched further heroin was discovered. He was searched at the police station and 23 wraps were in his sock. A total of 83 wraps of the drug, worth £830 on the streets, were found.

The defendant claimed he was transferring the drug from one person to another and his payment was a bag of heroin..

Michael Murray, for Khan, said at the time he had been heavily involved in drugs but had no real way of paying for them. He was now on methadone and the court could take a chance on him.