Delighted Natasha Harwood shouted “yes” and clapped in the dock when her sentence was delivered and was later seen dancing for joy as she left Liverpool Crown Court
A drug-dealing mum-of-two is seen jubilantly dancing outside court after avoiding prison. Natasha Harwood, 38, shouted “yes” and clapped in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court after her two year jail term was suspended for 18 months.
After walking free to cheers from the public gallery, she was pictured jumping for joy in the street outside alongside co-defendant Megan Stephen, 27, who was also spared immediate jail time.
The court heard cops found items associated with the supply of class A and B drugs at Harwood’s home, including tick lists, zip-lock bags, and another mobile phone containing drug dealing messages.
Prosecutor Sarah Egan said she was a “drug user who ran up a debt and felt the only way of paying was to accept the others if others, as she is a single mum of two children”, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Harwood, of Netherton, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, heroin and cannabis, but avoided jail after the court was told she was “preyed upon” by men to “do their dirty work”.
Kate Morley, defending, said: “Harwood has long term drug problems, she’s a single mother, unemployed, living in a council property. It was only a matter of time before pressure was put on her.”
She said Harwood was “terrified of being seen to implicate anyone”, adding: “She is the sole carer for her two children age 17 and 13. Her oldest son was adamant he wanted to write to the court, despite his mother attempting to discourage him. His younger brother is struggling at school.
“Their father is mot particularly involved in their lives. The impact of immediate custody on the children would be devastating. The impact on her parents, who would look after the children, would be great.”
Stephen, also of Netherton, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class cocaine, heroin and cannabis. The court heard cops found a large quantity of class A drugs at her home, including 38.9g of heroin worth around £2,990.
They also seized a mobile phone containing messages relating to the sale of drugs during the raid last May. In December, Stephen was again found in possession of drugs when police stopped her black Vauxhall while on bail.
The court heard both women were involved in county lines dealing as they struggled to keep up with the huge debts they had racked up due to their own drug use.
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