A DRUG dealer has been jailed for 18 months after he was caught with a second stash of amphetamines just weeks after his home was raided by police.

At Bolton Crown Court, Ian Firth, of Cressingham Road, Deane, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing the drugs with intent to supply and his co-accused, Michelle Lewis, of Church Avenue, Bolton, admitted six counts of drug possession.

Nicholas Clarke, prosecuting, told the court how police found 21 packages of amphetamine secreted around 52-year-old Firth's home when they raided it on January 28.

The drugs were valued at almost £1,700, Firth was arrested and granted bail.

But just over a month later, on March 6, Firth was at Michelle Lewis' home when police raided her address, finding 209g of amphetamine belonging to him in a bag by a wardrobe.

Small quantities of heroin, amphetamine and four other illegal drugs belonging to 42-year-old Lewis were also recovered.

Mark Friend, defending Firth, said he had turned to small-scale dealing to fund his own amphetamine addiction, which had got out of control following the break-up of his marriage two years ago.

"Although far from unique or extraordinary, it is, nevertheless, a depressing tale," he said, adding that the drug had ruined the life of the defendant.

"He leads a very solitary, nomadic existence, using amphetamine and drinking too much. He is not a man who is living the high life."

Andrew Costello, defending Lewis, a mother of three grown-up children, said she had battled drug use for 28 years.

Firth received a jail sentence from Recorder Paul Reid QC and Lewis was given a 12 month community order, ordered to undergo drug treatment for six months and take part in 15 days of rehabilitation activity.