A man and woman have been jailed after more than £2,000-worth of drugs were found in the boot of a car in Northumberland.
Police made the discovery after they were called to a disturbance on a Queen's Gardens, in Blyth, and had reason to speak to John Old and Kelly Old. Officers asked to search the latter's vehicle and, reluctantly, she removed the key from her bra and handed it over, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
In the boot of the vehicle and in a washbag on the rear seat, quantities of cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine were discovered.
Read More: From nightclubs to bookies: The biggest cannabis farms raided by police in the North East
Prosecutor, Sam Faulks, said the pair were arrested and their mobile phones seized and analysed, which showed evidence they'd been street dealing.
Mr Faulks added: "The messages are quite clear that there's evidence of dealing going on and people making enquiries about what drugs are available. The defendants are both street-level dealers of cocaine.
"Both defendants, when interviewed, provided no comments."
The court heard that, in total, 7.36g of cocaine, worth between £320 and £400, were discovered in Kelly Old's car, along with 174g of cannabis, worth between £1,175 and £1,425, and 1kg of amphetamine, worth between £800 and £1,000.
John Old, 36, of Sydney Grove, in Wallsend, who has 20 offences on his record, including four drug-related, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and was locked-up for 38 months. Meanwhile, Kelly Old, 33, of Hilary Avenue, in Forest Hall, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession with intent to supply amphetamine and was jailed for 28 months.
The court was told that text messages found on the pair's phones indicated they'd been street dealing for around a month in March 2019.
Steven Reed, defending John Old, said he'd been dealing to fund his own cocaine addiction.
Mr Reed added: "He's not used drugs since this incident after seeking help voluntarily from the Northumberland Recovery Partnership. As a result, his mental health situation has improved as well. He's made the link that if he doesn't take drugs, he doesn't have mental health issues."
Paul Cross, representing Kelly Old, said she had no past convictions and had also become involved to fund her drug habit.
Mr Cross continued: "She's someone who has been addicted to cocaine since she was 18-years-old and she has a history of mental health problems. She's alleviated her position in this case by pleading guilty."
Sentencing them, Judge Sarah Mallett said it was inevitable they'd be sent to prison, adding: "You can't deal with your own drug addictions by dealing drugs to other people."
