Woman caught in sting supplying drugs avoids jail

A WOMAN has been sentenced for supplying class A drugs after selling heroin to an undercover police officer.

Deborah Foster was caught out in the sting as part of a police operation in 2018 targeting drug dealers in North Tyneside.

Although Newcastle Crown Court heard Foster was not a professional drug dealer or part of organised crime, she became “caught up with them” as a drug user herself at the time.

Prosecutor Alec Burns said the undercover officer was in contact with a woman called ‘Sarah’ and told her she was looking to buy a £10 bag of heroin.

The court heard ‘Sarah’ said Foster “might be able to help” and tried to contact her a number of times without success.

On November 28 2018, the undercover officer went to Chestnut Street in Wallsend. met Foster and bought a £10 bag of heroin from her.

Foster was later arrested and denied being a drug dealer, saying she was a user but was now clean.

She was reminded of the undercover police officer and said she “could notremember if she had supplied her with drugs.

Mr Burns said: “She said she was not a dealer but did help other users like herself.”

Foster, 48, of Chestnut Street, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to one count of supplying class A drugs.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced Foster to 16 months in prison but suspended the sentence for 12 months.

The judge praised her for seeking help from drug rehabilitation charity North Tyneside Recovery Partnership and remaining clean for 639 days.