THREE Bournemouth drug dealers 'cuckooed' vulnerable drug addicts so they could use their home to sell class As.

Adam Larkin, 25 and of no fixed abode, John Forrester, 35 and of South Kinson Drive, and Debi Morris, 38 and of St Georges Drive, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced after admitting drugs offences.

Police carrying out undercover surveillance noted suspicious behaviour in West Howe on the morning of Tuesday, September 26.

At around 10am, the officers executed a warrant at a property in Littlemoor Avenue. Larkin and Morris were among those inside the house.

A number of wraps containing a powder, more than £1,000 cash and drugs paraphernalia were seized.

Forrester was arrested near Ringwood Road at the same time. He had been seen leaving the address in Littlemoor Avenue earlier that morning.

The 130 wraps seized from the property were analysed and found to be heroin with a total street value of more than £11,000.

Larkin's fingerprints were found on one of the bags.

A man and a woman in their 50s were charged with permitting the use of their premises for the supply of heroin. However, not guilty verdicts were formally entered after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence.

Police say the dealers 'cuckooed' addicts by taking over their home to use it as a base.

Larkin, who admitted possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Forrester, who pleaded guilty to possessing a class A with intent to supply and supplying a class A drug, was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.

Morris, who admitted being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years.

Detective Constable William Pearce, from Dorset Police's serious and organised crime investigation team, said: “We recognise the problems we have with drug dealers setting up in the homes of vulnerable people to use it as a base to supply drugs.

"This investigation was no different.

"The home of two vulnerable drug users was targeted by the offenders in order for them to distribute class A drugs around the West Howe estate.

"We urge members of the community to inform us of any addresses they have concerns about.

"Class A drugs such as heroin destroy not only people’s lives but also have a detrimental effect on the community they appear in. These reports helps us to build a picture so we can target offenders effectively."