A TEENAGE girl from Okehampton who was caught with more than 800 Ecstasy tablets worth as much as £4,000 on the streets has been spared custody.
At Exeter Crown Court last Friday 19-year-old Jenna Stevens? counsel David Osborne said if there was a charge of stupidity his client would be facing that rather than possession with intent to supply Ecstasy.
Prosecutor Terry Holder said the drugs were found by the defendant?s mother in a sports bag in her bedroom. She confronted her daughter about them.
Miss Stevens told her she was looking after them for her boyfriend while he was on a trip to Australia. The mother then took the drugs to that man?s mother and left them with her. She in turn took them to the police which led to Miss Stevens being arrested.
She said she had been extremely naïve and stupid and ordinarily played no part in the drugs circle.
Mr Osborne said the defendant had co-operated fully with the police and was normally a hard working, loving and affectionate girl. This had been a terrifying ordeal for her and she would never appear before a court again.
Miss Stevens, of Hay Tor Close, pleaded guilty to possessing Ecstasy with intent to supply it. She was ordered to carry out 140 hours community service and pay £250 costs.
Passing sentence, judge Malcolm Gibney said: ?This was a significant quantity of drugs by any standard and should attract a custodial sentence of significant length. The question I have got to ask is: ?Are you the right person to be serving that sentence??
?You agreed to look after these drugs and were doing a favour for a friend. You are an extremely stupid young lady but I am prepared to take an extraordinarily lenient course in your case.?