Woman's illegal drugs delivered as police searched her home
A woman whose house was being searched by police answered the door to a postman who was delivering her latest stash of drugs.
Officers had already found cannabis in Victoria Dawson’s bedroom, when the delivery of 252 Diazepam tablers were delivered, South Northumbria Magistrates Court heard.
Paul Anderson, prosecuting, said: “Police were executing a drugs search warrant at the house. Unfortunately for her, while the search was going on there was a knock at the door from the postman with a package addressed to ‘Vicky’ which contained 252 Diazepam tablets.
“Ms Dawson said she had ordered the tablets online. She said she was unaware it is illegal to possess them without a prescription.”
Dawson, 35, of Toner Avenue, Hebburn, admitted possession of class B and class C drugs on December 14, last year.
The court heard she has previous convictions for 220 offences, including 11 offences involving drugs.
Gavin Sword, defending, said: “Ms Dawson had been on Diazepam for 15 years She tells me an edict came down that patients shouldn’t be on the drug for an extended period of time, so it was stopped.by her doctor.
“She tells me the withdrawal symptoms are worse than for heroin so she decided to buy some online, rather than resort to street dealers.
“They were strictly for her own use.”
Dawson was sentenced to a community order of 12 months, including a curfew for six months, 15 days of rehabilitation activity, and she was ordered to pay £85 costs.
The drugs seized were confiscated and will be destroyed.