A CARLISLE man who called the police to report the sudden death of his "best friend" was involved in the supply of Class C drugs, a court heard.

The man who died was suspected to have suffered an overdose but the defence lawyer for his friend, 41-year-old Stephen Rooke, told magistrates the defendant was not in any way involved in supplying the drugs involved.

Rooke admitted being concerned in the supply of the drugs diazepam and lorazepam. Prosecutor George Shelley outlined the facts.

Police were summoned to the Carlisle  street where the man who died was living after receiving the call reporting his death. Officers found the defendant standing outside.

He had with him both his own phone and that of the deceased.

When police examined the phones they found evidence that Rook supplied the two Class C drugs which led to him being charged. The court heard that Rooke, of Warwick Road, Carlisle, had 27 offences on his criminal record.

Some 21 of them were for drug-related offences. In July of last year, he was jailed for 18 months for numerous drug offences, including the supply of illegal substances.

“He went on Saturday morning to see his best friend and found him dead,” said Jeff Smith, defending. “He was the one who called the police and he called the father of his best friend.”

The defendant, who had now been recalled to prison, understood that he was facing a jail term but, said Mr Smith, Rooke hoped magistrates would reflect upon the trauma he had been through.

The lawyer added: “He was in a relationship with a young lady and she would give him drugs and he would give her drugs. That is the basis of his plea.

“He wasn’t, in any way, involved in the supply of drugs to the deceased. It is an awful situation. He apologises to the court for what he has done.

“He knows that his record is unacceptable and unattractive. He will have to change his life fairly dramatically, otherwise he will find himself in the same position as the deceased was in on Saturday.”

Magistrates said they appreciated that the defendant had been through a traumatic experience but that did not detract from the seriousness of the offending.

They jailed Rooke for 52 weeks.

* Lorazepam is a prescription drug that is used to treat anxiety and sleeping problems while diazepam is prescribed for anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures.