Drug dealer jailed for five and half years

An addict who was seen by police dealing a wrap of heroin to another user on a car park in Great Yarmouth was yesterday jailed for five and half years.

Alexander Barrand, 47, who has previous convictions for drugs offences, was seen to signal to another man and then hand him a wrap of heroin after meeting on a car park near the Haven Bridge.

Norwich Crown Court heard that Barrand claimed that he was helping out another addict who was suffering from withdrawal symptoms by supplying him with heroin, which was worth about �20.

Barrand of Southtown Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted supplying a Class A drug in February this year and also theft of food from retailer Iceland, in Great Yarmouth.

The court heard he was convicted of possession of LSD with intent to supply in 1994 and in 2004 he was convicted of being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine, when he allowed his home to be used for the supply of drugs.

Jailing him, Judge Simon Barham accepted Barrand had been supplying the drug to a known addict but said: “This is the third conviction of an offence of supplying Class A.”

Katharine Moore, for Barrand, said it was only a small amount of heroin that he had supplied and it was to another user who was suffering with withdrawal symptoms.

She said Barrand had worked as a chef for bands touring the country and this is where he found himself in an environment where there were drugs.

She said he had been battling with his addiction for years.

“He has made efforts to reduce his level of dependency.”