Drug dealing was detected on phone

A WOMAN residing in Castlederg has received a suspended jail sentence for being involved in the supply of drugs five years ago.

Omagh Magistrates Court was told that Christine Williams (34) of Millbrook Gardens has changed her life and broken her links with a drug culture since the offences. She was sentenced to eight months, suspended for 18 months for being concerned in the supply of Ecstasy and Cannabis.

The court was told a property in Omagh was searched on July 18, 2016 and Williams was present with a male. Her mobile phone was seized and messages indicted she was involved in the supply of the drugs. No drugs were found during the police operation.

A defence solicitor said the case was of “quite some vintage”. He added Williams had ‘relevant’ convictions in 2005 and 2013.

Defence counsel stated, “She was in a settled relationship and it was a culture of mutual drug use. Having pleaded guilty she has made no attempt to gainsay the facts of the case. The first conviction for Class A drugs is in relation to a speculative comment in a text message”.

Her co-defendant was dealt with in court before Christmas.

Imposing the suspended sentence, District Judge Peter Prenter noted that while the defendant had two relevant drug offences on her record, the last was in 2013.

Addressing Williams, he said, “The cycle of any drug culture is broken. There has been no offending of any nature since this, which is important. I am prepared to take on board this was your life then and you have changed since. This case revolves around telephonic conversations and traffic and I suspect, intelligence.

“The onus is on you to continue in the lifestyle you have now and stay out of trouble”