A mother-of-two who turned to dealing crack cocaine to try and pay off her debts has been sent to prison for 15 months.
Louise Johnstone had nearly £15,000 worth of the Class A drug in her Dundee family home when it was raided by police.
The search was carried out after Johnstone confessed she had a stash of the drug to officers who pulled her over in her car following a tip-off.
Officers were acting on intelligence when they pulled over Johnstone and her admission led them to recovering £13,600 worth of cocaine, the city’s sheriff court heard.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael told 39-year-old Johnstone: “You pled guilty to a serious charge of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug. In view of the gravity of the offence, and the public expectation, I have no option but to impose a custodial sentence.”
‘Extremely serious’ offence
Johnstone, of Sandeman Street, admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs in Dundee on March 10 last year.
Solicitor Annika Jethwa, defending, told the court: “She has very little record and has a family. She appreciates being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug is extremely serious.
“The circumstances leading up to this involved her having drug debts, and debts in general. She has commitments involving her children.
“She has learned her lesson from this incident. She is extremely worried and concerned. She has accepted responsibility.”
Car stop
Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan told the court: “Intelligence suggested she was concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and a search warrant was obtained.
“Officers stopped her in her car. A mobile phone and cash were seized from under a seat in the vehicle. She made admissions that crack cocaine could be found at her home.
“There were wraps containing white powder which was analysed and confirmed as cocaine. There were scales with traces of the drug on it. Messages on her mobile confirmed her involvement in the supply of drugs.”
