A TEIGNMOUTH man who was caught with £8,000 worth of heroin in his home was said by a judge to be 'dealing in death'.

At Exeter Crown Court, Mark Sullivan, 38, pleaded guilty to possessing 77.37 grams of heroin with intent to supply it and possessing cannabis.

Prosecutor Dave Bowen said police searched Sullivan's home in Lower Kingsdown Road and found drugs together with paraphernalia including a mirror, a razor and a card.

Sullivan claimed he was holding the drugs for someone else and he was going to return them to that person, who he refused to name. He maintained he did not use heroin, only cannabis, and did not know what was inside the package.

Mr Bowen accepted the Crown could not gainsay Sullivan's assertion that he was looking after the drugs for another person.

"He was still involving himself in the Class A drugs trade," said Judge Graham Cottle. "Either he was going to release the heroin onto the streets of Torquay or give it to someone else who would do that. It makes no difference. He had £8,000 worth of heroin and was dealing in death."

Judge Cottle remanded Sullivan in custody while a pre-sentence report is prepared but told him: "The overwhelming likelihood is that you will receive a prison sentence."