A WORCESTER addict who supplied drugs to a man who has since died has been jailed for 27 months.

Paul Parslow gave Philip Pilberg small quantities of heroin and methadone to "help him".

The 26-year-old told police he knew Mr Pilberg was "in the game" and that he thought heroin would not hurt him, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Judge David Matthews said although Parslow was not responsible for Mr Pilberg's later death, the tragedy demonstrated the dangers of drugs. The judge branded the defendant's crimes as a misguided attempt to help a friend.

Parslow, of Vicarage Court, St Paul's Street, Worcester, admitted supplying heroin and methadone between March and April this year.

Police searched Mr Pilberg's address in Leswell Lane, Kidderminster, and found a bottle of the methadone under a futon bed.

Parslow, a £10-a-day heroin addict, was arrested later and admitted supplying the methadone for £1 and 10 cigarettes, said Lucy Hawkins, prosecuting.

Mr Pilberg gave the defendant money for heroin. He bought him some when he went to obtain his own supply from a source in Rainbow Hill, Worcester.

Police found scales for weighing the drug at Parslow's home.

He had a previous conviction for heroin possession and was under a court's drug treatment and testing order.

Kate Iliffe, defending, said Parslow had seen Mr Pilberg was "in a bad way" and obtained drugs for him in a naive attempt to help alleviate his craving.

The defendant had been addicted to heroin since he was 15 but was making progress to wean himself off the drug.