Ashleigh Hall (26), of Lime Street, was caught working with Dean Kerry –– who is already serving four years and seven months –– Nottingham Crown Court was told.

A number of customers were keeping the pair busy when an undercover police officer made incriminating test purchases, the court was told on Wednesday.

The officer bought £10 of heroin on 12th, 16th, 17th, and 19th July last year and another officer bought a similar amount on 8th August.

Prosecutor Jim Metcalf said all the purchases were part of a long-running police anti-drugs operation.

Hall –– who admitted five counts of supplying the class A drug –– had undergone drug treatment and testing in the past.

After his release from custody in 2005 he had stayed clear of drugs for about two years but then began using heroin, said his barrister Steven Taylor.

Judge John Burgess told Hall: "I accept you were at the bottom end of the chain. You were doing this to fund your own habit."