A WOMAN stopped by police on the outskirts of Chester confessed she had hundreds of crack cocaine wraps hidden in a mattress in the back of her van.

Chester Crown Court heard Wendy Rose Graham, 40, was looking to pay off an 'old drug debt' when she was found with 308 plastic wraps of the class A drug crack cocaine and 70.1g of the class B drug amphetamine.

Graham, of Holly Green, Oswestry, pleaded guilty on Friday, January 31 to possession with intent to supply both drugs.

She was jailed for a total of 40 months.

Prosecuting, Mandy Nepal said it was at about 7.20pm on January 11, 2019 when officers stopped Graham's vehicle at junction 12 of the M53 motorway near Chester.

Graham was taken out of the vehicle and searched, and she confirmed the drugs were hidden in the mattress.

Officers noted she was visibly shaking and very nervous.

The total value of the drugs was between £3,230 and £3,430.

Also recovered were two mobile phones with text messages confirming Graham was dealing the drugs in exchange for cash.

She provided a 'no comment' interview.

Graham had no previous drug-related offences, but did have convictions for driving offences in 2003, battery in 2012 and two theft from dwelling offences in 2013.

Defending, Adam Antoszkiw said Graham should receive full credit for her guilty plea, despite not formally entering a guilty plea before magistrates.

This was because, he argued, the legal aid system meant if she had pleaded guilty then, she would not have had legal aid for sentencing and would not be represented by a lawyer at Chester Crown Court.

Judge Everett said the process was "something of a nonsense, but unfortunately that is the system in which we have to work."

When sentencing Graham, he said: "It's clear you were always going to plead guilty from the forms, so exceptionally, I will impose the full credit."

Mr Antoszkiw added the reason for the offence was to settle an old drug debt, where Graham had been "'asked' or 'ordered' to overcome that" by becoming a dealer.

Graham had been in full-time employment at the time of the incident as a domestic cleaner and had already started work at HMP Styal, and was intending to do a course with the Open University.

She had had a difficult upbringing, had spent time in foster care, but since leaving school had always been working.

Judge Everett, sentencing Graham, said: "It's very rare to see more than 300 wraps. This was a significant supply of cocaine. You know the effect of amphetamines as you have taken it yourself.

"The dangers of cocaine are well known. Users don't think about their own welfare. They steal, rob, burgle and prostitute themselves to get their next fix.

"That causes a huge effect on themselves and the wider community.

"I wouldn't be doing my job to the community and sending out the wrong message to drug dealers like you if I didn't give you a custodial sentence."