POLICE observed two teenagers acting as street dealers for a man being driven around Accrington town centre in a taxi, a court heard.

And when police detained one of the runners shortly after he left the taxi, Blackburn magistrates were told he was carrying 24 wraps of heroin and 15 wraps of crack cocaine.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to possessing both drugs with intent to supply. He was made subject to a 12 month intensive referral order and ordered to pay £85 costs and £25 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police were carrying out observations in Accrington town centre. A man was being driven around the town in a Max taxi, using the vehicle to conduct his drug dealing.

“Various people would approach the taxi and get in where they were given drugs,” said Miss Allan. “They were then despatched to carry out the street level dealing.”

She said the defendant was one of the street dealers and police detained him after he got out of the taxi. “His mobile phone was checked and it showed contact with the man in the taxi on several occasions, including just a few minutes before he got into the vehicle,” said Miss Allan.

“He was part of a street level operation in Accrington town centre.”

Miss Allan said the other youth arrested on the day had previously been dealt with by a referral order and the man in the taxi was due to be sentenced at the crown court in October.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said the man in the taxi was older and more criminally sophisticated and he was the person making financial gain.

“He was the middle man distributing to the people involved at street level,” said Mr Taylor.

“The individuals at the higher end of the chain make a lot of money and have a lifestyle that is very appealing to young people of my client’s age. I don’t think he has applied his mind to the misery this kind of behaviour can cause.”