A HEROIN addict caught in the middle of a drug bust was found to have a condom containing heroin hidden inside his body, Bolton Crown Court was told.

Police went to a house in Crescent Road, Great Lever, and found several people inside, including Gary Ashton.

Police searched the house and found a wrap of heroin on the settee and silver foil. Ashton was taken upstairs and asked if he had any drugs on him.

He produced a condom from inside his body and the contents, when analysed forensically, contained heroin worth between £160 to £570, depending on the price it was sold for on the street. He also had £140 on him.

Yesterday Ashton, aged 34, of Deane Church Lane, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced.

He had earlier admitted possession of a Class A drug, heroin, with intent to supply it to others. Judge Bruce Macmillan jailed him for four years and ordered him to pay £140 in costs.

Prosecutor John O'Shea said that as a result of information police raided the house and found Ashton several other people there.

When he was arrested and interviewed Ashton admitted supplying friends with heroin to finance his own habit. He said he had been an addict for 10 years.

Alaric Bassano, defending, said Ashton was at the bottom of the scale in dealing and had only sold the drug to a close circle of friends to finance his own heroin needs. Since being in custody he had made an effort to come off the drug.