Craven Arms woman avoids jail as drugs found near car

Julia Waite was 18-years-old when she was found to be the front passenger in a silver Vauxhall Corsa being driven by a man called Luke Walters, in Shropshire, on October 25, 2017.

Miss Rachel Pennington, prosecuting barrister, told Shrewsbury Crown Court that Waite had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis between August and October 2017 on a basis of plea.

However, she had denied other similar offences, which included being concerned in the supply of heroin, and possession with intent to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

The pair were travelling from Wolverhampton to Craven Arms when they were caught.

She said drugs worth an estimated £510 was found in a plastic bag near the car when they were caught and a message on Waite’s mobile phone relating to the sale of cannabis to a 15-year-old along with a reference to “snizzy”, a term given to cocaine.

The court also heard that following her initial arrest, Waite was subsequently arrested for drug driving and was given a 12-month road ban on March 15, 2018 which has now expired.

Mr Kevin Jones, mitigating barrister, said Waite, of Dodds Lane, Craven Arms, had come from a good home and had been “under the spell” of co-defendant Walters who had absconded several months ago.

Clean

He said there was no evidence that she knew about the heroin involved and that she had always accepted knowing about the other drugs. He said she was “now clean” and asked the court to give her a suspended sentence.

Sentencing her, Judge Anthony Lowe said: “It seems to be me that you are not somebody who is likely to trouble the justice system again. Nevertheless, the deterrent has be to be there as drugs were sold to young people. There are people who were affected by what you have done. This is not a victimless crime.”

The court also heard that Walters was apprehended earlier this week and was due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.

"I understand that you have been in contact with him recently. I hope you will have the common sense to realise that it is a very bad relationship,” the judge added.

For being concerned in the supply of drugs the shop worker, now 20, was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to attend up to 10 rehabilitation activity days, carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community and pay the victims’ surcharge.

She was found not guilty of the remaining offences.