Parry will receive his award at Parc Prison

Paul Parry will be the first prison inmate in Britain to be presented with a Royal Humane Society award while still serving his sentence.

Parry, 32, saved the life of a teenage girl being swept out to sea in January 2002.

But earlier this year, he was jailed for five-and-a-half years for being the ring-leader of a drug gang dealing heroin in Aberystwyth, west Wales.

The parents of Rachel Whitear - who died as a result of her heroin addiction - have criticised the award.

Pictures of Rachel, lying dead with a syringe clutched in her hand, were published in newspapers and used in an anti-drugs video earlier this year.

The 21-year-old's body was found in a bedsit in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000.

Her mother Pauline and stepfather Michael Holcroft released the pictures in order to warn of the dangers of drugs.

Mr Holcroft, 54, of Ledbury, Herefordshire, said: "He should not be looked up to by anyone because as a drug supplier he has been peddling in evil.

"It is a despicable trade and drug dealers are unscrupulous people preying on youngsters."

Parry was part of a gang importing heroin into the university town of Aberystwyth.

Swansea Crown Court heard Parry made at least seven journeys to Merseyside to pick up the Class A drug in less than three months last year.

Judge Michael Burr said Parry and the four-strong gang had blighted lives in Aberystwyth and told them they had no thought for the "misery and destruction flowing from their actions".

'Evil trade'

He sentenced the four heroin dealers to a total of 22-and-a-half years in prison - with Parry's wife Nadia jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Police have also criticised the award saying a drug dealer should not be put on a pedestal.

Chief Inspector Paul Cannon, who campaigns to cut heroin deaths in south Wales, said: "There is no way this man should be given a humane society award.

"Instead, he should be reviled for his part in this evil trade."

Parry was in Parc Prison, Bridgend, when he was told he will get a bronze award from the Royal Humane Society and a certificate signed by the Society's president, Princess Alexandra.

Those opposed to drugs have condemned the award

Parry and his father Dai, 54, braved gale force winds and fierce waves to save a 15-year-old schoolgirl who plunged 30 feet onto rocks from the harbour jetty.

Royal Humane Society secretary retired Major-General Christopher Tyler yesterday defended the award to Parry and his father.

He said: "The girl was seconds away from being swept to sea by the rising tide.

"Without this brave father and son's intervention she would not have survived and they showed remarkable bravery and endurance."

The bronze award ceremonies are usually performed by senior police officers but in Parry's case the presentation will be made by prison governor James Mullen.

Coastguard manager George Crumpler, who recommended the Parrys for the award, said: "What he did does not detract from the fact that he showed outstanding courage in helping to save the girl and I felt he deserved every recognition for his efforts."