JUDGE SLAMS POLICE AFTER UNDERCOVER DRUGS STING

A DRUG user who supplied undercover officers with heroin has won his
freedom after a judge criticised police.

John Jenkins was locked up during Operation Fahrenheit after giving
drugs to two officers purporting to be users.

But Burnley Crown Court heard he had not been the target. He had been
asked to get drugs for them and the dealer who supplied heroin to him
was not prosecuted.

The court was told Jenkins (34), of Regent Street, Nelson, had given
the officers three lots of drugs but refused a fourth time as he was
trying to kick the habit.

He had committed the offences last January but had not been arrested
until the end of August, by which time he was subject to a community
order and was winning his drugs battle.

Jenkins admitted three counts of supplying heroin. He was given 52
weeks in jail, suspended for two years, with a 12-month drug
rehabilitation requirement and 18 months' supervision.

Sentencing, Judge Beverly Lunt told Jenkins those who supplied drugs
had to expect jail but the case was unusual as he had not been the
target of the operation and was not a street dealer.

She added the person "higher up the ladder" had not been prosecuted
for dealing. She went on: "He has apparently got off scot free, which
I find astonishing."

Mr David Macro (prosecuting) said two officers went to Giles Street,
Nelson, looking for two men who had numbers for drugs suppliers.

Jenkins was there and told them to come back later. The officers
returned, Jenkins said he was going to "score" and agreed to sort the
officers out.

Mr Philip Holden (defending) said for some reason, best known to
themselves, police had targeted drug users to get to drug suppliers.
Jenkins agreed, while getting his own small supply of drugs, to help
the officers and no crime would have been committed but for the
actions of police.

Mr Holden said Jenkins was in no way a drugs dealer and could have
claimed entrapment.