Woman admits she became drug dealer to pay off debts

Woman admits she became drug dealer to pay off debts

21 August 2013

A DOWNPATRICK woman has appeared in court in Derry charged with drugs offences following the discover of class A, B and C drugs at a music festival in Limavady at the weekend.

Sarah Gates (25), from Meadowlands, is charged with possessing LSD, ecstasy, diazepam and cannabis. She is further charged with possessing the LSD, ecstasy and diazepam with intent to supply the drugs and with supplying ecstasy.

A police officer told Derry District Judge Barney McElholm that the defendant came to the attention of security staff at the festival because of her suspicious behaviour.

He said staff stopped her and she handed over to them a small quantity of drugs. The police were then called and following a search of her belongings, the police found 200 ecstasy tablets, 200 doses of LSD, 150 diazepam tablets and four grams of herbal cannabis.

The officer said during questioning the defendant admitted bringing the drugs to the festival with the intention of supplying them.

“She said she started dealing in drugs in Belfast last February to pay off a £200 fine which had been imposed on her for driving without insurance. She said because of the fine she got into debt and she made the conscious decision to start drugs dealing”, the officer said.

Opposing bail, the police witness said he believed the defendant would “re-offend and re-engage in supplying drugs” if she was released on bail in a bid to recoup her losses.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor David Brewster said it “is a somewhat unusual case”. He said the defendant had no previous convictions for similar offences.

“She got involved in supplying drugs to pay off a motoring fine. This was an extremely foolish and amateurish operation and hopefully her drugs dealing days have been nipped in the bud”, he said.

The defendant was released on her own bail of £1,000 to appear before Limavady Magistrate’s Court on October 16.

As part of her bail conditions she’s banned from attending any music festivals and from possessing any non-proscribed drugs. She’s also to be electronically tagged and was ordered to adhere to a 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. curfew.