POLICE found heroin worth £45 and a dealer's list when they raided a couple's Droitwich home.

Gareth Burbridge confessed he had supplied a circle of friends over a six-week period, Worcester Crown Court was told.

He had been a heroin addict for six years and had contracted blood poisoning in his right arm through infected needles.

Peter Arnold, defending, said his limb looked like it belonged to a First World War trench victim.

Burbridge, aged 21, of Farmer's Way, also led police on a 60mph car chase before losing control and mounting the kerb.

He was jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting three counts of supplying heroin, possession with intent to supply, dangerous driving, no insurance and driving while banned.

Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said Burbridge and his wife Jacqueline were both arrested following the police raid on November 16, last year. She will be sentenced for drug offences on Friday, November 30.

The dealer list showed heroin amounts worth £20, £15 and £10 had been supplied. Burbridge admitted supplying drugs up to 15 times.

Miss Powis said on Tuesday, July 17, this year, a police patrol followed him into Meadow Road, Droitwich, but he tried to get away.

He drove on the wrong side of the road and then 60 yards along a kerb before being arrested.

He was still under a six-month ban imposed under the totting-up procedure.

Mr Arnold said he had been tested for drugs regularly while in custody on remand and was making improvements, although his arm was still a pitiful sight.

"He became the conduit for heroin and supplied pre-existing users," he said. "He was not dealing for profit, only to subsidise his own habit."

Judge Ian Morris accepted he had not corrupted others into taking heroin but said he had risked his own health by using the drug.

He added that only by good fortune had no-one been killed or seriously injured by his driving. He imposed a two-year ban.