The family of the Temple Ewell woman jailed after she restrained her daughter to prevent her going out to buy drugs, say they are lodging an appeal against the prison sentence.

Julia Saker, 44, was sent to prison for 12 months after she admitted false imprisonment of her daughter Tabitha.

The teenager’s ex-boyfriend, Christopher Francklin, also admitted the offence and was sentenced to 18 months.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that the 18-year-old had tried to climb out of a window to meet a drug dealer, but was bundled to the floor, tied up with tape and had a sock pushed into her mouth.

But Tabitha had already dialled 999 so the whole incident could be heard by the operator and police.

Officers arrived at the home and arrested her mum and 22-year-old Francklin.

Jailing them, Judge Adele Williams said it was a serious offence which subjected the victim to violence and humiliation.

Now Tabitha says she would swap places with her mother if she could.

She said: “She shouldn’t have to suffer as a result of me taking drugs.

“I think most parents would have felt it was the right thing to do, that she didn’t really have much other option.

“My mother is a very homely person – she doesn’t want a lot; she just wants to be at home.”

Mrs Saker’s husband, Tim, says he couldn’t believe his wife had been sent to prison.

He thought at the worst she would get a suspended sentence.

He said: “I wasn’t there at the time it happened but I understand my wife’s involvement was minimal.

“She only put some tape around the outside of her jeans to stop her kicking and hurting herself.

“It has meant that Tabitha has had very minimal supervision.

“She is still on methadone but it is very difficult for me to monitor and supervise because I have got to go to work as well. “Julia was always there for her.”

Last week the East Kent Mercury revealed that MP Charlie Elphicke was writing to Attorney General Dominic Grieve to ask for a review of the case.

Mr Elphicke said the case had caused a lot of concern locally.

“Drugs are a real evil of our times,” he said. “Many people tell me any parent would do all they could in such a case. It seems clear that Julia’s motive was to help her daughter. In view of this, many feel that the sentence is too harsh.

“I will be asking for the case to be reviewed.”