A FATHER today explained why he informed police when he found a drugs haul in his pregnant daughter's bedroom.

Kirsty Doole, 19, was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in a young offenders' institution for using her home as a safe house for heroin.

She had admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply at Swindon Crown Court after being caught with drugs worth a street value of up to £10,000 at the house.

Unemployed, Pete Doole, 40, of St Margaret's Green, Lower Stratton, explained: "Kirsty was doing a three-month prison sentence for shoplifting when we found the drugs as we went to her bedroom to get some things for her. I think the drugs were heroin or crack cocaine, and I know for a fact they weren't Kirsty's.

"At the time we thought Kirsty was off drugs, and our family was shocked when we found them. We had no other option than to call the police because we didn't want them to fall into the wrong hands."

Mr Doole and his wife's decision to alert police was described as wholly commendable by Recorder Christopher Frazer at Swindon Crown Court.

But Mr Doole added: "I am totally against drugs, in fact I moved from Pinehurst to Lower Stratton to get away from them, but they have followed us.

"I was shocked with the three-and-a-half year sentence but the judge said he could have imposed twice the length. I just hope now that Kirsty, who is pregnant, will come out clean, start to grow and care for her baby. It was the only thing I could have done."

The court heard Doole's mother went to collect items to take to her daughter last September.

She picked up a coat and discovered a large amount of cash and packages believed to contain drugs, said Kate Brown, prosecuting.

The police were called in who advised the parents to leave the packages where they were. A man later arrived at the house and attempted to flush the packages down the toilet, the court heard.

They contained 106 grammes of heroin with a street value of between £5,300 and £10,600, said Ms Brown.

Doole admitted she was keeping the drugs as a safe house for the main supplier, Ms Brown said.

"She was bagging up these drugs and she was allowed to delve into the stash for her personal use. She received no money payment."

Rob Ross, defending, said Doole is now receiving specialist treatment for her drug addiction.

"This girl had become wound up in the local drug scene," he said.

"She was subsidising her heroin use by shoplifting and became involved with someone."

Mr Ross said a lot of credit has to be given to Doole's parents.

"I think they have been very brave in what they have done," he said. "I think she appreciates it was for her benefit."

He said it was clear that Doole, who is pregnant, was involved in the chain of supply. But Mr Ross said it was unlikely she would be involved in a similar situation in the future.

The Recorder told Doole he was aware of her circumstances but they could not deflect from the need for a custodial sentence.

The Recorder made an order for the drugs to be forfeited.