A DRUGS runner sold heroin and cocaine to undercover police officers.
And a court also heard how chronic drug addict Peter Hitchcock complained to one detective – about having to walk up and down a Huddersfield hill 25 times a day to do his deals.
The bizarre story unfolded at Bradford Crown Court as Hitchcock was jailed for 27 months.
Hitchcock was filmed during Operation Greystoke carrying out drug deals with officers in Huddersfield last year and yesterday Judge Jonathan Rose said his repeated offending could not be overlooked despite the fact that the 38-year-old had taken positive steps to turn his life around.
Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie told Bradford Crown Court how Hitchcock repeatedly supplied wraps of heroin and cocaine to an undercover police woman and then went on to be involved in the supply up to an ounce of the Class A drug to two of her male colleagues.
The court heard that between September and December last year Hitchcock supplied drugs on 17 separate occasions to the officers.
Most of the deals took place in the Yews Hill Road area, but later Hitchcock met up with the male officers near his home in Moorbottom Road, Thornton Lodge.
During a conversation with the policewoman Hitchcock described himself as being tired from going up and down a hill 25 to 30 times-a-day delivering drugs.
Hitchcock, who had no previous convictions for drugs matters, admitted 24 charges of supplying drugs and his barrister Yunus Valli explained how his client had been used by others because of spiralling drug addiction and debt.
“He is a runner,” submitted Mr Valli.
“'He got his drugs for free and the others have in essence left him high and dry. Those more criminally sophisticated may never be brought to court in relation to this case.”
Mr Valli handed the judge a report from a drug rehabilitation project which revealed the genuine efforts made by Hitchcock since his arrest to get himself drug free.
“This man has genuinely turned a massive corner in his life,” said Mr Valli.
Judge Rose said he took account of Hitchcock’s efforts and said it was with some regret that he had to jail him.
“You are an example of what can be done when you put your mind to it,” said Judge Rose.
“The great shame in this case is that you did not do so before you got involved in this level of dealing.”
A 29-year-old man who admitted supplying heroin to an undercover officers last November has been given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
Majad Hussain, of Rashcliffe Hill Road, Lockwood, was caught on camera handing over the drugs in the Manchester Road area and yesterday he was sentenced following his arrest as part of Operation Greystoke.
Judge Jonathan Rose said he had taken account of the fact that Hussain had no relevant previous convictions and provided support for his parents in deciding to suspend the prison term.
Hussain will however have to do 180 hours unpaid work for the community and be supervised by the Probation Service for the next 18 months.
