DESPERATE drug users queued outside a Cwmbran heroin den from 7.30am - even climbing in the windows to get their fix, a court heard.

Neighbours also saw people wanting drugs throwing stones at the house, while some deals were even conducted through a hole in the front door, prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones told Cardiff crown court.

Nicholas Hannon, aged 29, of Homedale, Greenmeadow, Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to three charges of supplying heroin and was jailed for three years. Deborah Stone, aged 36, and Yasmin Casagrande, aged 26, of the same address, each admitted three charges of being concerned in the supply of heroin.

But the sentences were adjourned for them to be assessed for the possibility of being made subject to a drug treatment and training order and they were each remanded on bail.

Judge David Morris told Hannon: "You were engaged in the regular supply of heroin to others but there is no evidence before me to suppose that you were conducting this for financial benefit.

"You would supply part of a bulk purchase you had made but it remains a serious form of offending."

He described heroin as a "pernicious and highly dangerous drug".

The judge added: "Everyone needs to know that heroin dealers will go to prison."

Mr Jones said dealing took place at the house which was the home of Hannon and where the other two women also lived, between March and April 2000.

He added that neighbours saw queues of people outside, sometimes as early as 7.30am. Some people would be climbing in through windows and others throwing stones to attract attention and deals were carried out through a hole which had been made in the front door.

Police kept observations for several days and videoed the activities and interviewed people who had gone to the house.

"These people confirmed that drug dealing had been going on," said Mr Jones. On April 28 the police searched the house and found syringes, foil, a quantity of heroin, electronic scales and £224 in cash.

Ieuan Rees, defending Hannon, said that since his arrest he had weaned himself off the drug.

"He's got no illusions whatsoever about the sentence he is going to receive," he said. Hannon was said to have a previous conviction for possessing heroin and LSD. The two women had convictions for shoplifting.