A MOTHER-of-four was led weeping from the dock to start a nine-month jail sentence for posting heroin to her husband in prison.

Tara Aldridge was said to have bought and supplied the drug because of her husband's threats to get people to harm her and two of her children by a previous relationship if she didn't send him the drug he craved.

Aldridge, 33, of The Hyde, Bolts Hill, Chartham, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court having been committed for sentence by Canterbury magistrates for supplying heroin in January. She had admitted the offfence.

Dominic Webber, prosecuting, said prison staff seized an unfranked package addressed to inmate Jason Aldridge.

Inside were two solicitors' forms and stuck to the back of one were two small packages. One contained 82mgs of heroin and the other 86mgs.

Phone calls from Aldridge to his wife were monitored and recorded and comments heard about her prints being on the back. She was arrested.

Aldridge said her husband had told her to get heroin and gave her a contact and she paid £20 for the drugs, which she wrapped in clingfilm and taped to the back of the letter.

Salma Lalani, for Aldridge, said although she had previous convictions, they were largely committed to get money for her husband's drugs.

"She had suffered violence and abuse because of his addiction and three of her children have special needs.

"When he was imprisoned she thought her problems would decrease but he threatened to get people to harm her and her two children by another relationship if she didn't send him the heroin.

"She felt she had no option being worried about the consequences," said Miss Lalani.

Jailing Aldridge, Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl said her previous convictions involved her offending to support her husband's drug habit.

"It does seem you have been willing to help his habit. This is an extremely serious offence and a great deal of the punishment lies in the deterrent effect."