Drugs woman sent to prison

The judge spoke of the "havoc and misery" caused by people who deal in drugs.

Anita Haffenden, 30, was arrested last November as she returned from London after police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller.

Hove Crown Court heard she handed a carrier bag to officers in which 810mgs of heroin was found.

In a search of her home in Holliers Hill, police discovered 37,000 in cash secreted in her bedroom.

But the court heard the money was from a redundancy payout and wages, not earnings from drugs.

Catherine Plank, prosecuting, told the court: "Police received anonymous information that on November 22 the defendant would be on a train from London with a quantity of heroin.

"Consequently officers were waiting at Warrior Square. They identified her by means of a photograph and stopped her and said 'Are you Anita?'

"She at first replied 'No' then admitted who she was when they said they were police officers.

"They then asked if she had any drugs and she said 'Yes'. She said they were in a plastic bag she was carrying.

"She also took a small wrap from her trouser pocket. The carrier bag contained a large ball of heroin, 810mgs.

"The investigation was 'passed to British Transport Police and her parents' home where she was staying was searched.

"37,000 is believed to have been secreted in her room. The drugs had a street value of 9,000.

"She said she had met an unknown man and she collected it for someone else and admitted being addicted to the drug herself."

Frank Winslett, defending Haffenden who admitted possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, said: "In her teenage years she became a drug addict but managed to fight it off but then turned to heroin again.

"The pre-sentence report says she was completely out of her depth as to what she became involved in.

"This was a one-off, she co-operated fully with police throughout the interview.

"Turning to the money, the indication is that some of it was hers through a redundancy payment and some was from her regular employment. She led a modest life."

Jailing Haffenden, Judge Charles Kemp told her: "Having had previous experience with a heroin addiction yourself you must know how seriously the court takes your offence.

"Anyone involved in the supply of Class A drugs is committing a very serious offence.

"That's where the evil of it comes because that heroin could have come into the hands of young vulnerable people who are not yet addicted to it.

"You must know the havoc and misery that must reek in people's lives."