Living in a state of denial put a 42-year-old drug dealer behind bars yesterday for six-and-a-half years.

Roderick George Astwood was found guilty of possession of diamorphine (heroin) intended for supply on Wednesday by a Supreme Court jury.

And yesterday Chief Justice Austin Ward told him before sentencing that he could not show any leniency because: "You are still in a state of denial.'' Astwood was nabbed in June on Elliott Street after he was spotted taking money from passers-by and disappearing down an alleyway, returning to hand them something.

A Police officer testified watching Astwood place a package containing heroin in a hole in the alleyway wall and this was later recovered along with more heroin Astwood had on his person.

The total amount of heroin seized was 0.43 grams and tests revealed that it was 74 percent pure and worth $1,080. It was all packaged in $20 decks and Astwood also had $600 on him.

Astwood maintained throughout the trial and again yesterday that the drugs found in the hole in the wall were not his while the drugs on his person were for his own use.

He said he had a drug problem and asked to be treated for his addiction.

Mr. Justice Ward said Astwood's unwillingness to admit the stash of drugs found in the wall were his meant that he could not be lenient on him.

He sentenced him, and ordered that the time Astwood has already spent in Westgate Correctional Facility to be taken into account, and recommended that he receive treatment for his addiction.