A woman who drove a London gangster around Swindon as he peddled heroin and crack cocaine has walked free from court.
Corrine Allen was behind the wheel of a grey Vauxhall Astra which was being used for the supply of drugs early last summer.
And despite rejecting the 27-year-old's story that she was driving a friend around for fun, and unaware of his trade, a judge still imposed a suspended sentence.
Allen's vehicle was stopped one evening in Holne Road, Wichelstowe, on Wednesday June 24 last year when she and passenger Jermain Nimoh were arrested.
As the police grabbed the 26-year-old man he jammed his 'stock' of drugs up his backside and £750 was found in Allen's handbag.
Nimoh, who was on early release from prison for attempted murder, kept them there until police applied for extra time to hold him when he produced 40 wraps of drugs.
Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that although she had admitted what she had done on a limited basis their case was that she was the dealer's wheels.
He said: "She knew what was going on and she knew what the money was. She is the aider and abetter and had been driving him around for some time."
He told the court that phone records show that their mobiles were together across Swindon for a number of days leading up to her arrest.
Allen, of Luton, Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possessing criminal property.
James O'Hara, defending, said she had no previous convictions, with just a caution from 2004 for theft, and was under 'quite a lot of pressure' at the time of the dealing.
He said she had suffered Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer, which has left her unable to have children.
She was now working full time at Vauxhall's head officer and had not been in trouble since her arrest.
Recorder Malcolm Gibney said "For someone with a previous good character and a good record and plainly someone who has got some good characteristics you really did allow yourself to go off the rails by taking up the company on Mr Nimoh.
"I am not impressed with the suggestion that you were driving about for your own benefit because you enjoy driving. The period over which you were involved was long enough for you to know what he was doing.
"Class A drugs on the streets are a scourge, and in particular in this area. You are plainly vulnerable in that you have had a difficult medical history and no doubt of long term risk from your cancer.
"I am impressed by the fact that subsequently you have obtained full time employment."
He imposed a two year jail term suspended for two years.
Nimoh, of Dagenham, east London, was jailed for two years and nine months
after he pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply.
Despite receiving the new jail term it is unlikely to add to his time inside as he has been recalled until late 2017 on the nine year sentence for attempted murder.
He and other members of the Tottenham-based Northumberland Park Killers launched a revenge attack on a member of the rival Edmonton Shankstarz.
The victim was stabbed six times and was left with life-threatening internal injuries including a collapsed lung and a liver laceration.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article