A DRUG DEALER who sold heroin to an undercover police officer has been given a last chance to mend his ways.Sentencing Julian Startling to a suspended prison sentence Judge Peter Thompson said he was taking an exceptional course in not sending him straight to prison and warned him that if he was brought back to court he would be sent to prison.

A DRUG DEALER who sold heroin to an undercover police officer has been given a last chance to mend his ways.

Sentencing Julian Startling to a suspended prison sentence Judge Peter Thompson said he was taking an exceptional course in not sending him straight to prison and warned him that if he was brought back to court he would be sent to prison.

Naomi Turner prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court said Starling was arrested as a result of a police operation which ran between February and May this year to target dealers of class A drugs in Ipswich town centre.

Starling, 57, of Elliott Street, Ipswich, admitted possessing heroin, being concerned in making an offer to supply heroin and supplying heroin. He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years and made the subject of a 12 month supervision order.

Neil Saunders for Starling said he had been trying to address his drug dependency and had been taking methadone. Unfortunately he was tending to drink more and this had now become a problem that needing addressing as well.

He said Starling had supplied the officer with heroin as a favour to someone he thought was a fellow addict.