Woman found with drugs in bra said she had 'no idea how they were on her'

Darya Dyagel, 43, of Fifth Avenue, Chester-le-Street, made the claim after she was searched at South Shields police station – and to her own defence solicitor.

She had been taken there after her arrest for being drunk and disorderly in Thompson Road, High Southwick, Sunderland, on Sunday, June 21.

A search revealed she had in her clothing a small plastic bag containing a suspicious white powder, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

Prosecutor Kirstie Devine said forensic tests revealed the substance to be Class B-controlled drug amphetamine.

She said: “A police officer was flagged down by a colleague who was concerned about a female who was walking in the middle of the road.

“She was slurring her words and was unable to stand up. They suspected she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Her eyes were also red and looked glazed.

“She was verbally abusive to the officers. She was staggering around. She was arrested.”

Mrs Devine added: “A white powder in a packet was found in her bra. It was tested and revealed to be amphetamine.”

In court, Dyagel pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly but initially denied possessing the drug, on the grounds she did not know how it got there.

But after magistrates indicated they would not impose a custodial sentence for the offence, she changed her plea to guilty.

Jason Smith, defending, said: “On the night in question, she had had quite a lot to drink and was causing some disturbance.

“She says that she has never taken drugs in her life and has no idea how they were on her.

“She didn’t know what it was or how it got there, or the circumstances, but she may have found it and put it in her bra and was therefore in possession.”

Magistrates fined Dyagel £100 for drugs' possession and ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

They ordered the drugs be forfeited and destroyed. There was no separate penalty for the drunk and disorderly charge.