A WHITEHAVEN man has been given a suspended jail sentence after police saw him attempting to complete a street drug deal.

Liam Murphy, 37, who at the time of his offence was "hopelessly addicted” to heroin, was seen by officers as he attempted to give drugs to another man on July 11, 2019.

When Murphy realised he was being watched he fled, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

He had thrown a small parcel across the road and it was later found to contain an illicit Class A drug, said Rachael Woods, prosecuting.

Murphy, of George Street, Whitehaven, was found in a house nearby, hiding in the loft.

When officers searched a property in which Murphy was seen earlier, they found a parcel containing 12 wraps of heroin.

The defendant admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply. Anthony Parkinson, mitigating, said Murphy – at the time “hopelessly addicted” – acted as a drug runner for another person. Now rehabilitated, he was drug free, he said.

Judge Nicholas Barker imposed two years' jail suspending the sentence for same period. Murphy must do 180 hours' unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation and a three-month curfew.