A DRUG dealer who peddled heroin to fund his own desperate habit has turned his life around – thanks to the judge who kept him out of jail.

Stuart Abercrombie, aged 41, of Walsall, fully expected to be handed a three-year prison sentence when he pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Court two years ago to dealing the class A drug.Instead Judge Martin Walsh gave the father-of-three a chance to redeem himself and offered to take a special interest in his rehabilitation.

In the past two years, the pair have met around once a month and Stuart says the relationship has helped him beat his ten-year addiction.

“It feels really good to be able to talk face-to-face to a judge instead of listening to one in the dock,” said Stuart, a former pupil at Willingsworth High School, Tipton.

“It’s really made me open my eyes.

“I think if a lot more judges took this approach the results would be astounding.

“The fact that he believes in me really keeps me going and gives me that extra motivation to change. He’s given me a chance and I don’t want to let him down.”