WHEN police burst into a house in Bolton they found a "production line" for preparing heroin to be sold on the streets.

One man would weigh out the heroin into bags with a plastic spoon, a woman tied knots in the bag and another man trimmed the excess plastic.

Officers found heroin in the cut off fingers of disposable gloves hidden behind the couch and behind the TV set. The total haul of drugs weighed 5.127 grammes.

Jason Buckley, aged 30, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

Another man, Duane Howarth, who was with Buckley in the house when police arrived, was previously sentenced to three years jail to be served after he had completed another sentence.

Two others, Susan Peyton, aged 34, and 34 year-old Simon Hartshorn, both of Clarke Street, Bolton, accused of allowing premises to be used for selling drugs, had their cases adjourned.

The court was told that when the police called at the house on July 27 last year they found Howarth and Buckley sat on the couch.

Buckley was arrested and then bailed to appear at Bolton Magistrates Court but failed to turn up.

He was arrested on January 31 and kept in custody after a policeman spotted him driving a car.

Buckley had several previous convictions, including ones for dishonesty, driving and violence. He was jailed for three years.