Newcastle drug dealer, 57, told police she was selling cocaine to pay for new curtains

A 57-year-old drug dealer caught peddling cocaine in Newcastle city centre said she was doing it to buy new curtains.Deborah Townsend was spotted by plain clothes police during a crackdown on drugs. She claimed she was just selling cigarettes but when searched she had cocaine, which she intended to sell.Newcastle Crown Court heard that Townsend was seen approaching an elderly male and engaging in an unknown exchange on 10 February 2020.She was then seen to take part in another exchange with a man outside a pub and when he was stopped and searched he did not have drugs, but had tobacco he said he bought from her.When Townsend was searched she had four small bags of cocaine on her and codeine tablets. After her arrest, she was found to be in possession of more cocaine and tobacco and cash and there was further cash found at her home.In total she had 2g of cocaine, 5.3g of codeine and £5,448 of cash, along with 319 packets of counterfeit cigarettes and more than 100 hand-rolling tobacco. She received a warning over the tobacco.Joe Culley, prosecuting, said: "She admitted having cocaine and intending to sell it. She said she was given wraps to sell for £20 each."She said she intended to use the drugs money for modest home improvements, such as new curtains."She added that she had been threatened by the person who gave her the drugs to sell.Recorder Anthony Dunne told her: "This is an unusual case. You are a woman 57 years of age now and according to the pre-sentence you have no history of drug or alcohol misuse."You were seen in Newcastle city centre and from what was found in your possession and found at your property, you were selling wraps of cocaine. How and why you came to be involved in such serious, unlawful activity is obscure."The prosecution accept you are a woman who's likely to be vulnerable to pressure and you were clearly working on behalf of someone else. You don't present a risk or danger to the public, you are a woman of effectively good character and you have been on bail for nearly three years."Richard Bloomfield, mitigating, said the cash came from selling counterfeit tobacco. He added that there were two references which "speak of her in favourable terms".

Townsend, of Cheviot Mount in Byker, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing criminal property and possessing codeine.She was sentenced to 23 months suspended for two years with a nine-month curfew between 7pm and 7am, rehabilitation and £1,200 costs. She must also pay back the money seized from her, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know: