Downf all of a young soldier

A FORMER soldier was collared by undercover officers during a drugs sting in Preston city centre.

Tyrese Harrison was being used as " cannon fodder" for dealers higher up the supply chain when he sold a wrap of heroin and a wrap of crack to the officer, who was posing as a drug user on June 7, 2022

At 11:40am, the officer, who can not be identified, was in the Market Street area of Preston and saw a group of drug users

He waited with them until Harrison arrived, and began handing out drugs. The officer approached him and asked for " one of each", handing over £25

As the dealer walked away, the officer asked for his phone number, and was given the number of a drugs line from another user in the group

The drugs were sent off for analysis and Harrison was identified through CCTV footage

He was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack. He pleaded guilty to the charges on the basis he was reliant on ketamine and had agreed to deal on that day in ex- change for his own drugs.

Preston Crown Court heard Harrison ' s life ' spun out of control' when he left the armed forces in 2019 He struggled to adjust to civilian life and began using ketamine, which has left him with long term bladder problems

However Joe Allman, defending, said since his arrest Harrison has tackled his addiction and no longer uses the drug

He now wants to return to work - although his dreams of returning to militar y ser vice are over,

Sentencing, Recorder Jon Close said: "This was a dealer line and you were the street dealer on that particular day You were cannon fodder.You were engaged in street dealing to insulate those higher up "

The judge said there was an element of pressure and coercion which led Harrison to take part in the supply of drugs

"The dealing of drugs, no matter what level, is a serious matter, because those drugs create destruction and miser y - not just tracing back to where the drugs have come from but you spread it through the community and see how it impacts those who are addicted

"You see the violence and you see the effects on families. It is poison, not just in individuals but on society."

Recorder Close handed the defendant, of Fishwick Parade, Preston, a 20 month sentence suspended for 18 months with 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activities