A WORKINGTON woman was “pressured into” dealing heroin and cannabis because her partner owed a drugs debt.

Sophie Porter’s offending was discovered in December, 2020, after police raided the caravan she was living in and a shed nearby, finidng heroin worth an estimated £2,000 and cannabis with a street value of £200.

They also found £480 cash.

The 26-year-old defendant, formerly of Oldside, Workington, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and cannabis with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, the cash from selling the drugs.

The court heard that the police raid uncovered 35g of heroin as well as cutting agents and digital scales, bearing traces of heroin. The defendant’s fingerprints were found on one of the bags containing money.

The court heard that Porter was a woman of previous good character.

Sean Harkin, for Porter, said she is now the mother of a new-born baby and is living away from Cumbria. The lawyer referred to background papers which confirmed Porter was put under “pressure” from various individuals.

She left the county to escape that pressure. “Her prospects of rehabilitation are good,” said Mr Harkin.

Recorder Peter Horgan accepted Porter had felt she was under “enormous pressure” after her partner accrued a drugs debt following his prosecution for drugs supply. After his release from prison, he still owed that debt.

The drugs criminals threatened the defendant and her family with violence and for this reason she agreed to sell the drugs directly to users. “I had to keep the trouble from my door,” she told police.

She said she had not made any money out of selling the drugs and did not know how much of the debt was paid off. Had she been making money out of her crimes, she said, she would not have been living in a caravan.

The Recorder noted that the defendant has a supportive family and had been assessed as posing a low risk of reoffending. She was also remorseful, and her life had now progressed in a positive way.

“Your involvement was due to pressure and intimidation” concluded the judge. Given the circumstances, said Recorder Horgan, he could take an exceptional course by suspending the 21-month jail term he imposed.

The sentence will be suspended for two years.

Porter must also perform 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days. The judge said: “It's been a close run thing.

"You have been given a chance. Look after your new-born baby and don’t get involved in offending again, otherwise you will end up in prison.”