by Keith Hunt

A heroin addict caught dealing in the drug at her Minster home has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Deborah Clay had 21 wraps concealed in her bra when police raided her High Street flat in the on January 10 last year.

A judge told the 35-year-old that she could have been sent to prison “for a number of years” for dealing in class A drugs.

“I sentence you on the basis you were a low level supplier of potentially deadly drugs, namely heroin,” he said.

“You yourself know how these drugs can wreck lives and cause untold damage to families and relationships.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard Clay immediately confessed to officers she had heroin. The wraps containing 4.12g of the drug were found in her bra.

She gave a prepared statement denying she intended to supply the drug and claimed it was for personal use.

Clay denied possessing the drug with intent to supply but was convicted by a jury last month.

Juliet Oliver, defending, said Clay’s remand in custody pending sentence had been an eye-opener, seeing others in the “recidivist revolving door”.

Clay, an addict for 10 years, had made efforts to reduce her heroin usage to “high days and holidays”. She resorted to drugs when things went wrong in her life.

“She appreciates it is something that has to be addressed if she is to get rid of what has been long-standing addiction,” said Miss Oliver.

“She is desperate to get off the Isle of Sheppey. The council is trying to rehouse her.”

Judge Jeremy Carey said it was “a pretty lame excuse” that Clay said she had the wraps in her bra because she did not want visiting children to get hold of them.

“There is very little that can be said on your behalf,” he said. “You denied what you are being sentenced for. You can’t ask for mercy or credit for facing up to what you were doing.”

Judge Carey said Clay had ability, which she was squandering.

“You can regard yourself as fortunate I am prepared to put you in a lower category of offender in terms of culpability,” he added.

“But society must see that those who deal in drugs at whatever level will go to prison."