Dealer who tried to claim she was forced to supply cocaine avoids jail

Female drug dealer who tried to claim she was forced to supply cocaine after she lost stash she’d been ordered to look after avoids jail

A female drug-dealer who claimed she was forced to supply cocaine after she ‘lost’ a stash of drugs she had been ordered to look after has avoided jail.

Katie Hunter, 22, told Newcastle Crown Court that she and man, whom she would not name, were forced by another unidentified man to store an illegal package and had agreed to do it out of fear.

She added the drugs were somehow lost and she ended up being forced into dealing to earn back their value. 

Hunter, of Ashington, admitted possessing and supplying class A drugs and was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for two years.

Katie Hunter (pictured) claimed she was forced into supplying cocaine after she ‘lost’ a package of drugs she had been ordered to look after

Police found 11 bags of cocaine in Hunter’s purse and £250 cash when they stopped her car in Ashington in April 2021. Her home was then searched and another three bags of cocaine were found.

The drugs weighed a total of 12.6g and were worth between £1,060 and £1,240, Prosecutor Ellen Wright told the court.

‘In short, Miss Hunter pleaded guilty to matters on the basis she was operating under pressure, she was in fear and she did not receive any financial benefit from the conduct,’ Miss Wright said. 

Tony Cornberg, defending, said the offences happened over two years ago and Hunter, who had never been in trouble before, was operating under ‘fear and pressure’. 

Hunter was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for two years, with 200 hours unpaid work and a nighttime curfew for six months. Judge Earl told Hunter at Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) that her case had been a ‘fine balancing act’ regarding immediate custody

Mr Cornberg said Hunter has an apprenticeship and added: ‘She is not given to drug dealing before or indeed after. She still has a lot of potential.’ 

However, Judge Stephen Earl seemed to question Hunter’s plea, saying: ‘How on earth do you lose something you are looking after overnight when you are in such abject fear of the person?’

Despite his apparent scepticism, the judge said he would sentence Hunter on the basis of her plea.

Judge Earl said: ‘The defendant, it is said, was asked to look after some drugs and lost them. Because of the loss the money had to be earned back by dealing in drugs. That is the basis of plea, essentially.’

Hunter received an 18 month sentence, suspended two years, with 200 hours unpaid work and a nighttime curfew for six months.

Judge Earl said Hunter’s case had been a ‘fine balancing act’ regarding immediate custody. He told her: ‘You put drugs on the street. Drugs are a scourge of our society and lead people into leading awful lives.’

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