‘Vulnerable’ woman jailed for dealing drugs from flat

May 20 2008

A VULNERABLE woman allowed her house to be used as a drugs den after starting a relationship with an addict while in hospital being treated for schizophrenia. Liverpool Crown Court heard that Janet Harrison’s two flats were full of bin bags stuffed with drugs of Class A, B and C.

Officers found Ecstasy, LSD, amphetamine, ketamine and cannabis with a street-value of nearly £27,000 in the 51-year- old’s two homes on Slatey Street, in Prenton, Wirral. Harrison admitted six counts of possessing various drugs with intent to supply on June 22, 2007, but said she had help- ed sell drugs for eight years., but confessed she had been helping to sell drugs for about eight years Jailing her for 3½ years, Judge Morrow said: "You were aware this group were unsavoury." and helping them deal drugs gave you financial assistance with your rent."

He also ordered £2,100 Harrison had made from her dealing be confiscated.

But the court was told grey-haired Harrison, who was wearing a grey suit and polo-neck jumper, was a "most unlikely defendant".

Sophie Smith, defending, told the court Harrison had first become involved with drugs after meeting an addict while a psychiatric inpatient at Arrowe Park Hospital after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The pair started a relationship and he introduced Harrison, who was described as a "loner" and was living off benefits, to people from the criminal underworld.

Miss Smith said that despite her partner’s death in 2001, outwardly-respectable Harrison continued to be exploited by his "unscrupulous" associates.

She added: "It is not often a lady of this character reaches this age of 51, and decides to offend in this way.

"The situation has arisen because she is someone who is extremely vulnerable. This is a woman who had dealt with a number of significant difficulties with mental health."

But Judge Graham Morrow QC said psychiatric reports showed she had not been suffering from mental health problems recently.

Harrison admitted six counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply on June 22, 2007, but confessed she had been helping to sell drugs for about eight years.

Jailing her for three-and-a-half years, Judge Morrow said: "You were aware this group were unsavoury characters and helping them deal drugs gave you financial assistance with your rent."

He also ordered £2,100 Harrison had made from her dealing be confiscated.