Zayn Sheikh (17), of Hollingreave Road, Burnley, and Khalil Afzal (20), of The Boulevard, Preston, were "crucial hand servants" in the enterprise, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sheikh, an "intermediary" who transported hard drugs from high end dealers to street peddlars, also collected cash and took it to his employers.

He had drugs worth almost £2,000 at his home. Afzal was said to be the look-out for police and may not have known the extent of Sheikh's dealings.

Sentencing the pair, caught after a random roadside police stop in February, Judge Christina Lyon said: "You have both brought shame and dishonour on your families by being involved in what right-minded thinking members of society view as the most despicable trade of suppling drugs."

Both admitted being concerned in supplying heroin and crack cocaine. Sheikh was given a six-month intensive supervision and surveillance programme with a six-month curfew, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. His co-defendant got 39 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with two years' supervision and a six-month curfew between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Both had lived in Accrington, where the offences took place.

Mr David Brangam (prosecuting) said the pair had been involved in drugs supply for a month. Sheikh stored drugs in his room at his family home and delivered packages to drop-offs to be picked up by other dealers.

He would be contacted by suppliers and buyers on one of a number of mobile phones. Police later found he had 12 sim cards.

Mr Brangam said Sheikh did not personally deal drugs to the public. He would collect money and pass it from dealer to supplying dealer. He was paid £200 a week – £800 in total.

In the roadside stop, Sheikh was found with a cigarette box containing 10 wraps each of heroin and crack cocaine. Police searched his room and discovered 7.44g of heroin and 11.66g of crack cocaine.

The prosecutor said Afzal was Sheikh's "back-up" and knew Sheikh was involved in dealing. He did not receive any money but sometimes shared a joint of cannabis with his co-defendant.

Mr Hugh Barton (defending Sheikh) said the defendant had been naive, immature and manipulated by older, more sophisticated and cunning criminals. The defendant had stopped taking cannabis and was determined to return to college.

Mr Martin Hackett (defending Afzal) told the court: "He has been used in the grand scheme of things by others to allow the terrible trade to continue. The defendant received no payment for that but took all the risk."