ADDICTS on "every landing" of a block of flats in Worcester are forcing residents to deal in drugs.

Recovering addict Jonathan Morgan told Droitwich magistrates that one man stabbed him in the leg because he refused to peddle heroin.

The 26-year-old needed 10 stitches in the wound.

Morgan, who appeared in court for a review of his Drug Treatment and Testing Order, said Vicarage Court, in St Paul's, was "stacked full" of addicts and dealers.

"There's a drug dealer on every landing," he said. "The police are watching it - they know what's going on. CID and the drugs squad are there almost every day."

He said he and his partner had begged the caretaker for a move.

"I don't care where we go," he said. "Evesham, Hereford or even somewhere else in Worcester, but far away from there."

Morgan's problems came to a head last weekend.

"On Saturday night, I got stabbed in the leg," he said. "I've had 10 stitches because I wouldn't sell drugs for a fellow."

The chairman of the bench told him that his response to the DTTO, made on October 11, had been "less than satisfactory".

But Morgan replied: "Where I'm living, there's no way I can stick to the order.

"I'm trying my hardest to succeed. But I've nearly got my door kicked in because they're trying to bully me into selling drugs.

"Every time I walk out my door, people want to sell me drugs. It's a total nightmare."

Morgan had his review adjourned to Thursday, January 17.

Following the case, area beat manager PC Malcolm Palmer said Worcester police were aware of drug problems in the flats.

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From P1 / n "And we do arrest people for drug-related offences on the premises," he added.

Susan Littlemore from English Churches Housing Group, which owns the flats, said she was aware of problems at two properties out of the 50 in the scheme.

"We're trying to be responsible and, since the introduction of a new intercom security door, have seen benefits," she said.

"But we're bound by certain rules which mean that, to secure an eviction, we need weighted evidence from a group of tenants that there is a nuisance.

"The onus is on individual people to put themselves forward and be identified.

"Also, if the police provide a conviction, or probability of a conviction, then we can go for a conviction."