to use him as a decoy was given a 12-year prison sentence yesterday.

Floyd McCoy Hayward, 45, of Friswell's Hill was charged with importing 81.5 grams of diamorphine (heroin) with a street value of $337,000 on a British Airways flight on April 9.

Puisne Judge Philip Storr told Hayward before sentencing him that heroin is a very dangerous substance, which is highly addictive even in small quantities.

"You have been convicted of a serious offence. All the offences you were put on probation for were obviously drug related.You were put on probation in October 1998 in an attempt to help you. There is little to be said on your behalf. Your lawyer (Elizabeth Christopher) did her best,'' said Mr. Justice Storr.

The court heard earlier Hayward was serving a three year probation sentence after he was convicted on October 21,1998 on three counts of attempting to defraud, stealing, forgery, uttering and breaking and entering. The probation was with a condition that Hayward received treatment for his drug addiction.

Mr. Justice Storr told Hayward he played for high stakes and lost so he must pay the penalty.

Det. Con. Dennis Astwood read a list of Hayward's antecedents. The officer told the court Hayward had a criminal record dating back to 1972 when he was 18 years old.

There was no significant gap in the times these offences were committed, said Det. Con. Astwood. Hayward, he said, had only been convicted previously in 1978 for possession of marijuana.

Defence Lawyer Elizabeth Christopher urged the judge to disregard her client's previous conviction for possession of marijuana. This offence she said was of a totally different character.