THE terminally-ill partner of a Selby man jailed for six years after being caught carrying £2,000 of heroin says the conviction is a "life sentence" for him.

AIDS victim James Collis, 38, who lives in Prospect Place, Wistow, fears he will never see his long-term partner and carer Allen Worthington again.

James said the judge punished both men by imposing a lengthy jail term instead of a community punishment, and is organising an appeal against the sentence.

He also claims Worthington was "exploited" by drug dealers and acted as a drug mule because of fear.

"By punishing Allen, the judge is punishing me and shortening my life dramatically. I know that without his care and support, therapy is not a reality any more," he said.

"I am going to die within the next year or two."

Worthington, 29, was sentenced at York Crown Court after being caught twice by police carrying heroin near Selby, once when he was on bail from the first offence.

He was given a six-year jail term after pleading guilty to two offences of possessing heroin with intent to supply and one of possessing heroin.

The court heard Worthington was previously convicted of manslaughter after he injected his then partner with heroin.

James, a trained florist who ran Bona Blooms in Finkle Street until a few years ago, said he has lost a nurse, driver, supporter and friend.

"I have had my partner and carer removed from me. The chances of me being alive when he comes out are going to be very remote," he said.

He said that James gave him deep muscle injections of Voltarol, a pain killer and anti-inflammatory drug, which he could not do himself.

He said he would be unable to visit him in prison as his immune system was so weak he could not risk catching any infection from a confined public space.

"I honestly do not know what to do. I have thought about doing something myself to try and get myself locked up with him," he said.

chris.greenwood@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 16:20 Monday, January 13, 2003