AN ADDICT who stole heroin and crack cocaine from a drugs runner and planned to sell what he did not use has been jailed for over three years.

Loc Dang, 33, was found guilty of possession with intent to supply heroin following a trial at Winchester Crown Court in August. On Friday he appeared at the same court to be sentenced.

Police attended an address in Turin Court, Andover, which they thought had been ‘cuckooed’ – taken over for criminal purposes – on March 15, 2019. Dang opened the door and a search discovered a large cling film wrap, which contained smaller wraps.

Officers also found £1,755 in cash which Dang said was from a property that was his and from his partner's father.

Prosecuting, Michael Mason said that 3.58 kilograms of heroin in 39 individual wraps were found. An expert said the drugs were worth £390.

Mr Mason argued that Dang, of Northam Road, Southampton, had a significant role in the operation and was motivated by financial gain.

The judge, Recorder Louise Harvey, said that Dang had come into possession of the drugs following a phone call between his girlfriend and a dealer.

Dang did not like how the dealer was speaking to his girlfriend and arranged to meet. He in fact met with a runner and grabbed the drugs, which included heroin and crack cocaine.

The court heard that at the time Dang and his girlfriend were dependant on crack cocaine, but not heroin so did not use this.

In mitigation, Aleks Lloyd said: “This is a situation where a drug user has come upon drugs, used the drugs that he was interested and then going to supply the drugs onwards.

“The likelihood is that these drugs would be sold, and the money earned from those drugs would be spent on crack cocaine for him and his partner.”

Dang was the subject of a suspended sentence at the time of the 2019 offence, but Mr Lloyd said that his client’s “personal circumstances have changed considerably”, adding: “They have a daughter, and they are both drug free save from Mr Dang smoking cannabis two or three times a week”.

Recorder Harvey jailed Dang for three and half years, along with a four-week consecutive sentence for breaching the suspended sentence.

Dang was found not guilty at trial of being in possession of a crack cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.