AN ALCOHOLIC who told a judge he stored more than £1,000 of heroin for a friend has been jailed for 39 months.

Christopher Fletcher, of Intake Road, Norton, below, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply on the basis that he was storing the drugs for an un-named friend.

But that was rejected by Judge Robert Trevor-Jones who labelled the 34-year-old a "low-level drug retailer", following a trial of issue at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

It emerged yesterday that Fletcher was drinking 12 litres of cider every day around the time of the offence.

Police had found 20 grams of heroin hidden under a sink and Fletcher's passport during a raid at a house in Columbine Walk, Tunstall, in February last year.

The court heard the house was rented by a friend and Fletcher would stay there when drunk.

He was seen catching a taxi nearby and officers stopped the car in Wolstanton and arrested him. He gave no comment at interview.

Giving evidence at court, Fletcher said: "At that stage I was alcohol dependent, drinking around 12 litres of cider a day. I was in the Sneyd Arms, in Tunstall, and someone asked me to keep something for him.

"I had known him for a couple of years, I'm not prepared to say his name because of repercussions on my family. He is well-known for being dodgy.

"I presumed the box contained drugs. It was just stupidity and drink which made me say yes. I gave him the key to the house and told him to put them under the sink."

Police also found £188 cash in Fletcher's pocket when he was arrested, which he said was borrowed to take his girlfriend out on Valentine's Day. Scales and packaging were found in the box with the drugs.

Nick Tatlow, prosecuting, said: "This was a complete drug-dealing kit and the cash was the proceeds of selling the drugs.

"They were his drugs kept along with his passport in what he considered to be a safe place."

Nicola Bell, defending, said: "The purity in this case was extremely low, even for Stoke-on-Trent standards. One wonders whether the alcohol has really taken its toll on his judgment."

The court heard unemployed Fletcher is a registered carer for his mother who shares his home address. The drugs were valued at between £820 and £1,370.

Judge Trevor-Jones told Fletcher: "You have just crossed a significant line, being involved in the supply of class A drugs results in a custodial sentence.

"You were a low-level retailer and your account is bordering on the incredible."