A judge has decided not to jail a drug user because of fears that prison might make his addiction worse.

Richard Loben, 37, was caught supplying wraps of heroin and crack cocaine during an undercover police operation, but Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC decided to pass an intensive community order in a bid to help him kick his habit.

Barrister Stephen Wood told Bradford Crown Court that his client wanted to go to prison to "get clean", but Judge Durham Hall said the experience was that people who went in clean came out with a drug addiction.

"That's an horrendous indictment and the criticism is now being taken very seriously and very high level investigations are under way," he added.

The court heard that Loben, of Wingfield Street, Barkerend, admitted supplying drugs to a test purchase officer last December and he later told police that he had been dealing for three days to pay off a £300 debt to his supplier.

Loben had no previous drugs-related offences on his record, but Mr Wood conceded that his dishonesty convictions amounted to acquistive crime to fund a drug addiction.

The community order involves two years' supervision, together with an 18-month drug rehabilitation requirement and participation in the Addressing Substance Related Offending programme.

Loben will have to come back before the judge on a monthly basis.