Bristol woman caught with drug wraps
A woman who was caught with 33 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin hidden in her body at a Bristol address walked out of court with a suspended prison sentence.
Tara-Leigh Wilson was arrested when police raided a home in Easton armed with a drugs search warrant.
Wilson, 24, of no fixed abode, had concealed 20 wraps of crack cocaine and 13 wraps of heroin, worth a total of £340.
She later admitted possessing the class A drugs but claimed she had only been a temporary custodian and was not going to supply them.
She received a 52-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and an 18-month supervision order.
She will receive help for her drug addiction at a women-only hostel, under a three-month curfew between 11pm and 7am.
John Mannion, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, told how Wilson's intimately concealed stash of drugs was discovered in the early hours of August 7 last year.
He said police executed a search warrant at an address in Greenbank Avenue West, Easton, where Wilson was in an upstairs room.
The 33 wraps inside a cloth bag were then produced from her body.
In police interview, he said she told officers the drugs were not hers and she had never been involved in distributing drugs.
She claimed in a statement that she was looking after them temporarily and hid them when police raided the house.
Virginia Cornwall, defending, called for Wilson to be given a sentence with a drug rehabilitation requirement after she was assessed as being suitable to receive help to kick her habit.
Sentencing Wilson, Judge Carol Hagen said: "I hope you realise that in relation to supplying class A drugs, prison is inevitable.
"I'm going to impose a prison sentence, because I must, but it's going to be suspended."
4 Comments
by Big Poppa, St George
Monday, October 05 2009, 3:19PM
“Was Miss Wilson caucasian by any coincidence? I know for certain that if she was from an ethnic group she would be serving a 3/4 year stretch down the clink. This is a typical example of the CPS holding certain groups in favour of others. Drug usage and dealing is unacceptable and sentences should be standardised for all offenders. However I do agree that rehabilitation should be offered to all addicts free of charge. Stephen lets just hope you never experience any of your loved ones getting hooked on drugs, as your views will change dramatically.”
by michelle, Bristol
Monday, October 05 2009, 10:59AM
“I think its better she is on a rehabilitation programme. Prison isn't going to solve her problem. She'll just get hold of more drugs in there.”
by Samantha Creed, Longwell Green
Monday, October 05 2009, 10:35AM
“Obviously a dealer, so what is the message here?
Deal, eventually get caught after making loads of tax free money supplying.
Get let off.”
by stephen, bristol
Monday, October 05 2009, 8:22AM
“another druggie let off,before all of you say she wasnt,was she sent to prison no ,so i opinion she was let off,and who say crime does,nt pay druggies are the lowest of the low,nothing but scum”