SHARP-EYED Evening News acwcounts clerks foiled three heroin dealers after spotting them supplying drugs to young people in the grounds of Bolton Parish Church, a jury was told yesterday.

The women at the BEN's Churchgate headquarters spotted the drug dealers - through their office window - and alerted the police.

An Evening News staff photographer then took photographs of the men supplying drugs to young people, and children, as they waited for police drugs squad officers.

Police arrived within minutes and arrested three men for heroin dealing. The arrest led to the appearance at Bolton Crown Court of Ian Thornley, aged 31, of the Pewfist, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton; Liam Ellis, 25, of Stanley Close, Westhoughton and James Hayes, 39, of Preston Street, Great Lever.

Thornley and Ellis both pleaded guilty to drug dealing charges but Hayes denied being involved. He was found guilty by a jury, though, of supplying heroin and possession of heroin with intent to supply.

Mr Nicholas Simmonds, prosecuting, said that Thornley was the seller, Hayes the 'minder' and Ellis the lookout for the operation.

Outlining the events leading up to their arrest Mr Simmonds said that in February last year, account clerks in the BEN offices noticed Thornley and Hayes behaving suspiciously in the church yard and continually being approached by young people and 'kids'.

BEN staff notified the police and a staff photographer took photographs of the men from an upstairs window at the office overlooking the church yard. Mr Simmonds said police who arrested all three men found heroin, with a street value of up to £350, in their possession and hidden in bushes nearby.

Hayes, denying being involved, told the court that he was a heroin addict.

He told the court that he did not have enough money to pay £10 for one tenth of a gramme of the drug so he had gone to the church yard in the hope of meeting someone who would share the cost of a packet of the drug with him.

But he admitted being in possession of a mobile telephone and a cut-throat razor when he was arrested.

Hayes said the telephone had been lent to him by a man named Peter and claimed he had acquired the razor 'for curiosity' and had forgotten it was in his pocket.

All three will be sentenced in September.

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