A DRUG dealer who helped to build Carlisle’s crown court has been jailed for more than five years.

Alongside Lee Palmer, 47, at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday was 44-year-old Leanne Bewley, who was jailed for three years and nine months.

Richard Archer, prosecuting, said: “At 6.10pm on Alexander Street in Carlisle Leanne Bewley is seen by police doing a hand-to-hand exchange.”

She was found to have more than 11 grams of heroin and was subsequently arrested.

Mr Archer continued: “At the police station she was found to have £120 in cash and a Samsung mobile phone. She refused to give the PIN.”

Bewley, of Grey Street, told police the heroin found was for personal use.

On August 7 Bewley was stopped and searched and was found with four wraps of a brown and white substance – subsequently found to be heroin and crack cocaine.

“She was arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs,” said Mr Archer.

“Police entered her property on Aglionby Street and saw Mr Palmer run out of the front door.”

Palmer was holding a clear bag full of snap bags containing heroin and crack cocaine in one hand and an envelope in the other containing thousands of pounds in cash.

During a search of the property 26 wraps of crack cocaine and five wraps of heroin were found.

“Mr Palmer said to police he had tried to get rid of them for someone else. He said he was being bullied, but didn’t reveal details.”

Four mobile phones were found in the search, with the total street value of the drugs found estimated to be £745. More than £3,000 in cash was also found at the property.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

The court heard how Palmer, of Bousteads Grassing in the Denton Holme area of Carlisle, had two previous drug-trafficking offences to his name. Bewley had eight previous convictions for various offences, including supply of Class B drugs.

Nicholas Clarke, for Palmer, said the reasons for his first drug-dealing offence in 2011 were down to several factors.

“His wife died in 2006. He had been working, he is a talented individual in many respects.

“He took to heroin for the next four years and continued working in a restaurant as a chef.”

Palmer was part of the team of builders who put together the Earl Street crown court.

It was heard how Palmer was introduced to drugs in prison. His addiction soon forced him into dealing, which landed him with a prison sentence in 2011. Mr Clarke said his client is now keen to get back on the straight and narrow.

Katy Appleton, for Bewley, said: “She is mother to 21-year-old Josh and was residing with her son in Grey Street.

“She had been working as a kitchen cleaner when her partner of seven years hanged himself in 2015. Her life spiralled out of control.

“She started using heroin and then crack cocaine. She built up drug debt and started dealing to meet her own habit and to pay off the debt.”

Palmer’s sentence was longer as it was his third Class A drugs trafficking conviction.