DEALER MUM’S FINGERPRINTS ON COCAINE BAGS

Court told partner pressured her into role

A FORMER dental receptionist was arrested after her fingerprints were found on bags of cocaine stashed in the boot of a car.

Stoke-on-trent Crown Court heard Katie Myatt had been pressured into helping to bag up the drugs ready for sale.

When the 33-year-old heard her boyfriend had been arrested, she called another friend and asked them to take the cocaine and cannabis in case the police called at her home.

But the friend then became caught up in a police chase, which ended with the Volkwagen car he was travelling in crashing in Normacot.

Nick Tatlow, prosecuting, said: “The car was searched. In the boot there was a glass jar containing 182 grams of skunk cannabis.”

More than 120 grams of cocaine – packaged in seven smaller bags – was also found. It had a purity ranging from 24 per cent to 90 per cent, depending on the bag.

The total estimated street value of the drugs was not revealed in court.

Almost £3,000 cash was also seized, along with a set of scales and a notebook containing a list of customers. The items were analysed forensically.

“One fingerprint left by the defendant was found on a carrier bag,” said Mr Tatlow. “Thirteen other prints of hers were found on the inner bags of cocaine, and two prints were found on the tick list book.”

Police went to Myatt’s home in Hollings Street, Fenton. They recovered a phone, which showed a series of messages sent to her by her boyfriend that listed names.

Mr Tatlow added: “It was effectively an electronic tick list. Some of the names were the same as on the paper tick list.”

Myatt pleaded guilty to being concerned with the supply of cocaine and cannabis. Her plea was on the basis that she was under pressure from her boyfriend and had assisted with packaging the drugs.

Arif Hussain, mitigating, said she acted out of ‘fear’. He added: “She had a good work ethic up until this incident. She’s a single parent.

“She has managed to get her life back on track and is now working as a carer. She has also assisted with voluntary work at foodbanks.

“She is extremely remorseful. She wants to be able to put this behind her and move on in life.”

Myatt has now been sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for 21 months.

Judge David Fletcher told her: “Even at the lesser role you were engaged in, this is serious stuff.”