Newbury woman caught with mephedrone in car

Magistrates hand 35-year-old a curfew after 'designer' drug found

POLICE on patrol in Newbury caught a woman in possession of amphetamines, cannabis and the designer drug mephedrone.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, told town magistrates on Thursday, July 9, that officers spotted a car they “knew to be connected to the use of drugs” at around 12.30am.

On speaking to the occupants, she said: “They detected a smell they associated with amphe-tamines.”

Claire Leighton, of Newtown Road, Newbury, was among the car’s occupants and Ms Waite said she was taken to the police station where an “intimate search” was conducted.

This resulted in the discovery of a small bag containing white powder.

The 35-year-old told officers: “It’s just some meow” – a reference to the illegal designer drug mephedrone or M-Cat.

Ms Waite said: “Tests revealed the bag to contain a mixture of amphetamines and mephedrone.

A subsequent search of her house revealed four more bags of white powder, some herbal cannabis, numerous empty, small plastic bags and a set of digitial scales.”

Ms Leighton admitted possessing the Class B controlled drug amphetamine at Bath Road, Speen, and cannabis, also a Class B controlled drug, at West Street, Newbury, both on January 28 this year.

Furthermore, Ms Leighton admitted breaching a conditional discharge imposed for previous drug offending.

Phil Kouvaritakis, defending, called a probation officer to give evidence that his client came from a “chaotic background”.

Mr Kouvaritakis said his client had sought treatment for her drugs problems and added: “She has been providing a series of negative drugs tests and has been making great strides in turning her life around.”

Magistrates made Ms Leighton subject to a 12-month community order, with a curfew requirement for 13 weeks, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

No order for costs was made, but she was required to pay a statutory surcharge of £60.