A HEROIN dealer who was so addicted he sold his late mother’s house and blew the lot on drugs, has been locked up for five years.

Addict Nicholas Fallon, 29, has lost his leg due to excessive taking of hard drugs – his habit was so bad he was said to have been selling about £1,000 worth of heroin a week to pay for it, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Fallon, of Varley Street, Colne, admitted supplying heroin, between January 1 and February 27, possessing the drug with intent to supply and possessing amphetamine. He will face a proceeds of crime hearing on February 10.

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said police raided Fallon’s home on February 27 and found drug paraphernalia, such as scales, mobile phones and a roll of plastic bags.

Miss Snowdon said when interviewed, Fallon claimed the drugs were for his own use and he had not been supplying.

He was bailed and when police went back to his house on May 13, to arrange an appointment to charge the defendant, they looked through the window and saw him, they believed, bagging up drugs.

Officers were to find 79 cut off, twisted bags, scales and six small knotted plastic bags of heroin, worth £60.

Martin Hackett, for Fallon, said he became addicted to heroin again after his mother killed herself in 2008.

He said: “He was left his mother’s house, sold it and went absolutely mad taking heroin.

"He felt that was the only way he could cope at the time with the death of his mother.”

Once the money ran out, Fallon carried on taking the drugs and dealt to friends, acquaintances and people in the area who also took drugs.

In a pre-sentence report Mr Hackett said Fallon accepted he often dealt 15 bags of heroin a day to fund his own addiction.