Ex-heroin user became hooked on other drugs

To support his drug use, Paul Myerscough arranged for friends to be supplied from his dealer.

The thirty eight-year-old was given a suspended sentence order when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.

Myerscough, of Edmondsen Place, Fleetwood, had pleaded guilty to possessing amphetamine with intent to supply as well as possession of cannabis resin and cannabis bush.

Mercedeh Jabbari, prosecuting, said the defendant told officers visiting his home that he was in possession of a small amount of amphetamine. He stated the drug was for his own personal use.

Two amounts of cannabis, worth £10 each, were found on Myerscough himself.

He subsequently showed officers two large amounts of white powder, amounting to 45g of amphetamine, with a 28 per cent purity and a street value of £2,000.

During his first police interview, Myerscough said the drugs were for his own personal use.

He spoke of having tested clean for heroin for six years.

When text messages found on a mobile phone were put to him in a second interview, he conceded that they were drugs related and had been sent and received.

The defendant said he was the “middle man” who would arrange for friends to buy drugs from his dealer.

As a “thank you”, he would receive small amounts of drugs from friends.

Robert Golinski, defending, said the case involved a modest amount of drugs and Myerscough’s actions had been influenced by his own addiction.

Mr Golinski said: “He was dealing to people who were already users, people he knew. He would say it was done without financial reward, to sustain himself in his addiction.

“This is not a case of a significant or sophisticated commercial supplier.

“This is a drug user supplying effectively at street level to people he knew.

“He has managed to steer clear of Class A drugs, but his problem has been an addiction to Class B drugs”.

Myerscough was given eight months prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and twelve months drug rehabilitation order.