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Swanley teenager Laura Pearson gulped down drugs while officers carried out car search in Dartford

A Swanley teenager put her life in danger by swallowing class A drugs when arrested by police, a court heard.

Laura Pearson gulped down three wraps of heroin and one of cocaine - but she made herself sick soon afterwards and they were recovered.

The 18-year-old heroin addict had collected the drugs for her older boyfriend because he owed money to the dealer.

Officers arrested two men. Stock picture
Officers arrested two men. Stock picture

She was in the back of a car in Dartford on September 9 last year when officers carried out a search.

"She was seen to slip a small package in her mouth," prosecutor Trevor Wright told Maidstone Crown Court.

"She tried to keep it under her tongue. She was asked to spit it out but she gulped and swallowed it.

"She is confident she will not revisit her addiction. It is clear this is a very naive young woman..." - Nicholas Ostrowski, defending

"She was told that if it disintegrated in her stomach she could face serious health problems.

"She didn't want to go to hospital. She tried to make herself sick. She asked if she could have a cigarette.

"She went to the rear of the police car, put her fingers down her throat and vomited."

Officers then recovered the four wraps.

Pearson, of Sprucedale Close, admitted possessing drugs with intent to supply.

She paid £40 for the drugs and said she was going to pass them on to her 30-year-old boyfriend.

Sentencing her to eight months' youth custody, Judge Charles Macdonald QC told her: "There is mitigation to be found in the exploitation of your relationship."

The pair were jailed at Maidstone Crown Court
The pair were jailed at Maidstone Crown Court

Nicholas Ostrowski, defending, said Pearson was addressing her addiction.

She was reducing her methadone prescription and hoped to be free of the drug when released.

The relationship with her boyfriend was over and a non-molestation order was being sought to stop contact.

Pearson was serving a sentence for shoplifting. When freed she planned to live with her brother in Margate.

"She is confident she will not revisit her addiction," said Mr Ostrowski. "It is clear this is a very naive young woman."

Judge Macdonald said Pearson had sadly been an addict for much of her life.

"It has not been suggested to me that I should consider a community order, nor would I because you have a very bad record with engagement with the services who have tried to help you in the past," he told her.


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