A SECOND Selby heroin dealer has been given a hefty prison sentence as the crackdown continues on the town's growing drugs problem.

John Hurd, 43, of Barlby Road, Selby, was today starting a five-year jail sentence after admitting at York Crown Court to supplying and possessing heroin, and two offences of possession with intent to supply.

Selby detectives today applauded the sentence, which they said was a "realistic end result" and sent out the right message to both the public and street dealers.

Only last week, David Wilson - one of Selby's leading heroin dealers - was imprisoned for eight years after police raided his flat in Raincliffe Street where they seized heroin, syringes, foil wraps and weighing scales.

Selby-based Detective Sergeant David Pegg said the latest sentence was another example of how seriously the courts viewed offences involving heroin.

He said: "It's a clear warning to other people in Selby that it's a very risky business if they decide to start selling heroin.

"It also sends out the right message to members of the public in Selby who can rest assured any information they pass to us will be acted on promptly by the police."

He added: "We remain determined to crack down on heroin abuse, and will be concentrating our efforts on those who decided to sell to others.

"And we won't be forgetting the abuse of other drugs, including amphetamines and cannabis."

Det Sgt Pegg revealed that Hurd's downfall began after a phone call to police from a suspicious member of the public.

As a result of the tip-off, uniformed police officers swooped on an Austin Metro car parked on waste ground off the A1041 Bawtry Road in Selby on August 12 last year.

They searched the car and found 6.5 grams of heroin with a street value of £650. Hurd, who was in the driver's seat, also had £123 on him.

Police then searched his house where they discovered more heroin, a further £300, and a diary containing numerous references to his intention to start dealing in heroin.

He was charged and released on bail, but just eight days later was arrested and charged again after police found 16 silver foil wraps containing heroin in a camera film container Hurd had dropped underneath a car.

Yesterday's hearing was told that Hurd, a welder and fitter, had lost his job and his savings due to his addiction.

Judge Paul Hoffman told Hurd that heroin was a pernicious drug.

Selling it to others increased their addiction, and they then started to deal or commit crime to feed their habits.

He said it was a vicious circle, in which Hurd had played a full part.

* Anyone with information on drug abuse or crime can call a special police hotline in Selby called SCAT (See Crime and Tell) on 01904 669669.

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