A HEROIN addict who tried to hide drugs in the ground as police arrested him in Droitwich has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Two police officers on patrol spotted Wayne Lyes in the Little Hill area of the town and said they wanted to search him on the afternoon of November 21 last year, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He started to run but was caught within a few metres and struggled as officers arrested him on a grassed area, Scott Coughtrie, prosecuting, told the court.

As he was on the floor, the officers saw him trying to push something into the soil and found it to be seven wraps of heroin totalling 988 milligrams.

A search of his bedroom revealed drug paraphernalia and another wrap containing 298 milligrams of heroin.

Lyes pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs. No evidence was offered on a charge of possession with intent to supply.

Jason Patel, defending, said 40-year-old Lyes, of Valley Park, Chawson, Droitwich, had been a heroin user since the age of 18 and had run from police because he had just bought the drugs from a local dealer and did not want to lose his supply. He was now getting help in a recovery programme. The heroin was separated into wraps to help Lyes ration his daily usage, Mr Patel said.

Lyes, who lived with his mother, also had the regular care of elderly relatives who live nearby.

Judge Michael Cullum said there appeared to be a real prospect of Lyes being able to conquer his long term addiction. He gave him a two month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and warned him that any heroin use in that time was likely to result in a breach of the sentence. He was also fined £126, which was the amount police found on him at the time of his arrest.