A mother has been jailed for more than five years after being swept up in a "county lines" drug gang.

Stephanie Greenley admitted she had been selling heroin and crack cocaine for the past two weeks for London dealers after being stopped by officers.

She faced a minimum jail sentence of seven years after she was caught dealing drugs for the third time.

County lines operations see gangs in big cities target vulnerable people in other communities to distribute their wears.

Greenley had travelled from her home in Wateringbury to Maidstone town centre after sending out text adverts telling users she would be there to supply heroin.

Plain clothes police officers became suspicious of the 34-year-old addict when she was seen “interacting” with known drug users in Jubilee Square on July 31 last year.

Prosecutor Mary Jacobson told Maidstone Crown Court Greenley quickly walked off down Gabriel’s Hill with the users following her.

When stopped by one of the officers, she immediately produced a wrap of heroin from her hand and volunteered: “I have only got one on me.”

She added that she had a parcel of drugs in her bra and handed over a further 17 street deals of heroin at 22% purity worth about £170.

When her home in Bow Road was searched two phones, a sim card and scales were found.

Greenley said she had sent out two advertising texts to 12 contacts before travelling by train.

One said: “In town in half an hour.” The other confirmed she was there.

She admitted she had been selling heroin and crack cocaine for the past two weeks for London dealers in a “county lines” case.

Greenley said she was concerned somebody would supply drugs from her house and had told the dealers she would no longer work for them.

On the day of her arrest she was selling drugs for her own gain and planned to use those left over.

As well as previous convictions for drugs, her record included robbery, assault, burglary, criminal damage and shoplifting.

She was jailed for three years in 2009 for supplying drugs.

Greenley, whose young child has been adopted, was jailed for just over three months on Monday, August 13 for theft and assault on a PC.

She was later sentenced to five years and eight months after being given a 20% discount for her guilty plea to possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Judge Julian Smith told her: “What a place you have brought yourself to. There has been deprivation in your life, some of which was your fault.”

The judge said he was sorry it had come as such a shock to her that she faced a minimum sentence.

He added: “It is intended to be draconian for those who deal Class A drugs on a persistent basis.”

Paul Roache, defending, said: “It is what you might call a perfect storm for this defendant. It came as a surprise to her and the scales fell from her eyes.

“She was a classic county lines supplier. She did try to stop after two weeks.

"She was used by dealers from London. As I understand it, they are very dangerous people.

“She is a victim as well. She is deeply remorseful. She does want to change.”