A TEENAGER who assisted in street level dealing of heroin was warned he is heading for a prison sentence if he continues such activities.

Judge Jonathan Carroll gave the stark advice to Stephen Wray over his involvement with older, more sophisticated offenders, helping to supply heroin in Horden.

The 18-year-old defendant, of Wilkinson Road, Horden, admitted two counts of supplying heroin, unknown to him, to undercover police test purchasers, ‘Danny’ and ‘Kelly’, on June 4 and 6.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said when the officers,, inquiring about seeking “a score”, were taken to a house in Eleventh Street, Wray was asked to assist in the deal by an older man, while two days later he met one of the officers in the park and took them to an address where he could be supplied.

Neil Bennett, for Wray, said he played a “lesser role” than the older man, and was an addict himself just seeking to pay for his own heroin by assisting in the supply.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said, however: “He’s there at this address, in the thick of it. It was not just accidental.”

But, the judge said he would give the defendant an opportunity to distance himself from drug offending, by passing a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, during which he will undergo a high-intensity 18-month drug rehabilitation programme and perform 180-hours’ unpaid work.