A COCAINE addict was driven to Workington by county lines crooks to sell heroin and pay off a large drug debt.

Police found Allan Kinsella, 41, in the spare room of a Westfield Drive address house on August 14 while carrying out a search warrant.

A duffle bag and jacket stashed within a bed contained about £1,100 worth of heroin - mostly in the form of about 100 ready-packaged street deal wraps - and almost £1,000 cash.

“This is a business transaction across county lines, importing drugs from Merseyside,” prosecutor Francis McEntee told Carlisle Crown Court.

Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, revealed how Kinsella, of Greenway Road, Birkenhead, ran up “many thousands of pounds” of arrears with Liverpool dealers after becoming hooked on cocaine.

“They drove him in a car to his mother’s address to collect a bag and belongings,” said Mr O’Donohoe. “He was taken to Workington where perhaps the facts speak for themselves as to what was to unfold. Cash and drugs were found on him.

“He was doing it in order to pay off that drug debt.”

Kinsella, of Greenway Road, Birkenhead, admitted possession heroin with intent to supply, and simple possession of cocaine, and was jailed for 45 months by Judge David Potter.

The court heard Kinsella had become drug-free while remanded in custody, and intended to put illicit substances behind him when released.

“You are to be commended for the efforts you have made,” said Judge Potter, “seeking to make a better life for yourself than the one which brought you to Workington to peddle in class A drugs.”