POLICE put an addict at risk by using him as part of an undercover operation to seek out drug dealers in the town, an inquest heard.

James Varey, 38, died from alcohol and mixed drug poisoning at his home in Marley Street, Keighley, on June 13, 2012, after he bought heroin, and drank lager in the company of two plain-clothes officers.

Acting on behalf of Mr Varey's family, Ifeanyi Odogu told a jury that 'Operation Lambfield' - a tactic of which was identifying drug users and using them to make contact with dealers - was "inadequately planned," with risks to members of the public left entirely to officers on the ground, who had no specific training on the dangers of substance abuse.

In response, Detective Inspector Stuart Spencer, the officer responsible for the deployment of the covert officers who engaged with Mr Varey, said they did not see "a danger to his life" at any time, and did not make him "deviate from his normal routine."

The hearing in Bradford today heard Mr Varey had been in Keighley town centre asking passers-by for change when he was approached by the two undercover officers, who it was said had no previous knowledge of him.

"We said we were getting money for heroin, and he said he was doing the same," said the officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

"We piggy-backed on events that were already happening. We wouldn't incite anyone in any way."

In response, Mr Odogu said Mr Varey had not talked about buying drugs until prompted by the undercover officers.

"You asked to source some heroin ,and he agreed," he said, adding Mr Varey was "clearly intoxicated".

After meeting Mr Varey, the officers went with him to his home, before then going to an address in Pickle Street, where a drug deal was said to be arranged.

Mr Varey, another male, and the two undercover officers, then bought four wraps of street-heroin, two of which were kept by the officers, and two by Mr Varey.

Before leaving Mr Varey, one of the officers also went into an off licence and bought two cans of Special Brew for him after being given £5 to do so.

Asked why he bought the alcohol, the officer said: "I didn't want him to get angry or violent.

"If I had thought buying the two cans of lager had posed any risk to life, I wouldn't have done it. That was the decision I made at the time, and I stand by it."

In a statement from Sarah Turner, described as Mr Varey's partner at the time of his death, she said the pair were both drinkers and heroin users, both taking methadone for their addictions.

She said Mr Varey had been drinking lager and cider on the day he died, before she found him collapsed in his bathroom.

Thomas Varey, Mr Varey's father, said he had seen his son on the morning of his death, going to the letting agents, chemist, and off-licence with him.

He said: "He was not intoxicated, his eyes were bright and he seemed happy in himself."

In a statement from Dr Andrew Aspin, a consultant psychiatrist with Bradford District Care Trust, Mr Varey, who had been seen by community mental health teams since July 2010, was described as having "long-standing problems with dependency on alcohol and drugs."

The inquest continues.