A takeaway worker who was caught supplying heroin has been jailed for 33 months.

Tamriz Nawaz was spotted by police on Charter Street in Accrington and came to the attention of the officers after he ‘appeared to be avoiding eye contact with them’.

The 28-year-old ran off down an alleyway after they started to follow him, however he was detained a short time later.

Burnley Crown Court heard how officers searched the area and found two ‘packages’ in the back yard of a disused house containing 17 wraps of heroin and an amount of cocaine.

A later search of Nawaz’s house on Buxton Street in Accrington also found more cocaine and drug supply bags.

Nawaz, who has 22 previous convictions for 33 offences, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply and possessing cocaine and was jailed for 33 months.

David Traynor, prosecuting, told the court how the incident happened in August 2014 and Nawaz was also found with £175 in cash and a mobile phone. An analysis of the phone revealed text messages relating to the supply of drugs over a three-day period.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Nawaz starting taking drugs after he wife’s application to enter the country was rejected.

He told the court: “He got himself into debt and was struggling to repay that. He was certainly persuaded or coerced into doing it to repay the debt.

“He has no convictions for supply in the past. His record in recent years is not particularly significant.

“He had been drug-free for a period of time.

“He married at 21 and his wife is still living abroad now and hasn’t been here.

“She has made two applications, but following the failure of the last application he went back to taking drugs again.”

Recorder Simon Medland QC said Nawaz had a ‘bad criminal record’.

He said: “You were a street dealer performing a function and your were yourself addicted to this substance at the time.

“One of the dreadful effects of class A drugs is they hook people in, supply you on credit and you become addicted and their servants in order to keep your own supply going.

“These are terrible substances that ruin people’s lives and because of your actions in performing an important role there must be an immediate sentence of imprisonment.”