Daughter's death led to drug use

A MAN with a drink problem turned to hard drugs after his young child was killed, a court heard.

Barrister Piers Norsworthy told Plymouth Crown Court that in 2007 his client David Moffat's two year-old daughter was killed by a man subsequently jailed for seven years for her manslaughter.

Mr Norsworthy said Moffat suffered a nervous breakdown, was admitted to the Glenbourne psychiatric unit and still suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"He moved from drink to heroin," he said.

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Prosecutor Brian Fitzherbert said Moffat, previously of no fixed address but now living in a hostel in George Place, Stonehouse, had admitted three counts of supplying heroin to an undercover police officer in February this year and another count of supplying the officer, code-named 'Liam', with NRG2, a class B drug.

He also offered to supply him with crack cocaine.

The court heard that one of Moffat's co-defendants had been sentenced to two years in jail and the other given a two-year community order.

Mr Norsworthy said Moffat had a "horrendous" record, but had largely acted as a runner in the drug-dealing.

He had been released on bail on November 16 after five months in custody and had found accommodation which he was paying for. While in jail he had helped other prisoners with their literacy, he said.

Judge Graham Cottle told Moffat, 41: "You seem set to take advantage of what is on offer and put this period of your life behind you."

Imposing a 12-month community order with 12 months' supervision by the Probation Service and a six-month drug rehabilitation order, he added: "The opportunity is there for you to take, and you'd better take it."