Chantelle Straughan, 31, was caught with 147g of cocaine in her VW Golf on March 2. She claimed she was travelling to Hull when she "got lost" and turned off the A19 southbound, but officers pulled her over on Brookfield Avenue in Middlesbrough.
Straughan, from Scholars Road in Sunderland, admitted possession of a class A drug with intent at an earlier hearing, on the basis that she acted as a courier only, which was accepted by the prosecution. She insisted she had "no choice" when she caught trying to transport nearly £12,000 of cocaine to clear her debt, adding that she feared for her children's welfare.
Judge criticises cosmetic surgery
But while waiting for the court to deal with her, she flew to Turkey for a lip job. Judge Amanda Rippon, at Teesside Crown Court, told her: "You say you owed £5,000 to someone and this offending was a way of getting rid of that debt. I cannot comprehend what was going on in your mind- spending thousands of pounds on a cosmetic procedure. It is irresponsibility of the highest order."
On Monday, August 17, Judge Rippon revealed that Straughan had in fact been driving to visit her boyfriend at HMP Hull that day. The judge also noted that Straughan's bail conditions had previously been amended to permit her to travel to Turkey.
Defence asks for last chance
Judge Rippon questioned Straughan's defence barrister, Sophie Johnstone: "I hear she decided to be vain - that she went for a lip job or similar. And she's going to try and persuade me, through you, that she's poverty-stricken and that she focuses on her children?"
Ms Johnstone responded: "Her self-esteem was pummelled into the ground. That's no excuse for going to Turkey for this procedure. She needs help." The barrister explained that her client's "finances are all over the place" and that she "made a mistake" in obtaining the cosmetic surgery. The court was told that Straughan receives universal credit and was reluctant to request assistance from her parents when she accumulated debt.
"I would ask for one last chance," Ms Johnstone said, requesting that her client be given a suspended sentence. "She is being evicted from her address as a result of these proceedings."
Suspended sentence for children's sake
Judge Rippon addressed Straughan directly: "Your boyfriend is in HMP Hull. You're now a convicted drug dealer. You have two boys. You will be their world. Their world. The men that you choose to associate with will influence them. Your behaviour will influence them."
The judge stated she was suspending Straughan's prison sentence for the sake of her children, instructing her: "You move forward with them in mind." Straughan received an 18-month prison term suspended for two years. She must complete 30 rehabilitation days and undertake 120 hours of unpaid work.
"If you come back in front of me for breaching this order," the judge continued. "I will lock you up to protect your boys. If you come back to my court, bring a suitcase."
