WHEN police spotted heroin addict Brian Bibby they saw him drop a packet near a parked car and then run off.

Police recovered the packet and discovered it contained a quarter of an ounce of heroin worth about £300 in £10 deals on the street.

Four weeks later Bibby was again seen by the police as he walked along Caledonia Street in Bolton, carrying a plastic bag.

In an attempt to escape Bibby swung the bag, which contained a stolen car radio, at an officer's head, giving him a glancing blow. Bibby, aged 23, of Bromwich Street, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday for sentence on several charges.

He was jailed for a total of five years for possessing heroin with intent, supplying heroin, assaulting a police officer, theft, handling and shoplifting.

Prosecutor Richard Heap said police saw Bibby dump a packet near a car and then run off. They recovered it and found it contained 5.18 grammes of heroin.

Later he was seen walking with the plastic bag which contained a car radio stolen by his friend earlier. He hit an officer with the bag in an attempt to escape.

He told police he had paid £190 for the drugs which he collected in a Ribena carton by arrangement from a back alley.

When he saw the police he dumped it near a car thinking they had not seen him. He said he was dealing drugs on a daily basis to anyone who wanted them.

The theft charge related to an incident with Joanne Warburton who had collected her £90 benefits. He took the money without violence but with threats and spent it on drugs. He also admitted stealing meat from Morrisons.

The court heard that Bibby had a previous record including 18 court appearances for 17 offences and had served five years in jail for robbery.

Stuart Denny, defending, said Bibby had been a heroin addict since he was 13 but since being remanded in custody he had been tested as drug free three times.