WHEN police burst into Stuart Sharple's house they found him desperately trying to swallow a plastic packet of drugs.

Police had gone to Settle Street, Great Lever, Bolton, with a search warrant and found him in the kitchen trying to swallow the drugs.

But a police officer managed to stop him and the packet was later found to contain 10 packets of £10 wraps of heroin.

Sharples, aged 31, now of Milton Close, Hag Fold, Atherton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence for possessing heroin and obstructing a police officer searching for drugs.

Paul McDonald, prosecuting, said police also found a list of phone numbers, kitchen foil and a mobile phone.

The court was told that his record showed he had a previous conviction for having a sawn-off shotgun without a licence.

Sophie Cartwright, defending, said Sharples had a long-standing problem with heroin addiction and had originally moved to Bolton because of his job.

He had lost that job through drugs but had managed to get another one as a wood machinist. He had been using up to four bags of heroin a day and the heroin police found was for his own use.

Judge John Roberts sentenced Sharples to 150 hours community service.