A BLUE coat with a red lining is at the centre of a drug dealing trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Undercover police officers say David Leonard Hall was wearing the coat when he sold drugs.

Hall claims it was another man wearing the coat.

Officers had been keeping watch on his Water Street flat in Radcliffe in October, and saw several people arrive and leave.

They saw a man wearing the blue coat they say was Hall leave the house, run to the end of the road, exchange something with a man in a car, and then return to the house.

Hall denies a charge of selling heroin.

Mark Ainsworth, prosecuting, said two officers watched and filmed the house for three hours. They followed the car driver and he was arrested when found in possession of a £10 wrap of heroin.

Officers raided the flat, where there were several other people and Hall, waving a knife and being aggressive. They also found drugs equipment.

Hall said he was not threatening the police but happened to have a knife in his hand when they arrived. He said the tin foil was used for cooking.

He claimed he had not worn the coat that day and he had not been the man the police say they saw selling heroin.

PC William John Bigger, of the Prestwich drugs unit, said he had known Hall for eight years.

He told the court that he saw Hall pass only two feet from the van where he was keeping watch and he was only 15 feet from the drug transaction.

Proceeding