Drug addict escapes jail for second time

3:34pm Tuesday 18th September 2007

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A heroin addict found with thousands of pounds worth of drugs hidden in her deep freeze may escape jail for a second time.

Victoria Haywood had more than 800 grams of amphetamines as well as lists of names and numbers when police raided her Chippenham house.

But the 22-year-old, of Greenway Lane, claimed she was only looking after the drugs, worth £6,536, for someone else and not dealing in them herself.

She was put on a one year suspended jail term earlier this year on the condition she complete a drug rehabilitation order and did 150 hours of community service.

But six months on and the 22-year-old is back using heroin, has been breached by the probation service for not turning up and has done none of the community service.

And when she appeared at Swindon Crown Court for re-sentence a judge decided to adjourn the case to see if she was motivated to do the unpaid work.

Marcus Davey, prosecuting, told the hearing that the probation service sought to have the suspended sentence activated.

He said Haywood had failed to turn up for an appointment on April 10, less than two weeks after being sentenced, and again on May 3.

"Thereafter in relation to the drug rehabilitation requirement there were further absences which have resulted in her being discharged from that," he said.

"Currently the probation view is that Miss Haywood lacks the motivation and the request is for activation of the sentence."

However Chris Smyth, defending, said his client felt she was not getting the help she needed from the probation service.

"It does seem that the order that was set up did not really meet her needs in that she felt various deficiencies in the drug rehabilitation programme," he said.

He added that she had not done any of the community service as six days a week were taken up with appointments on the drugs and probation order.

Recorder Neil Ford QC said he was adjourning the case with her on bail to see if it was possible for Haywood to continue doing the community service.

He said: "The probation service can be told that the sole reason for the adjournment for a fresh report is to see whether it is considered viable for this order to continue on the basis that the defendant performs the unpaid work originally ordered."

Police raided Haywood's house under the Misuse of Drugs Act in December last year and found the drugs in the freezer.

At first she told officers she had forgotten about them but then claimed she was looking after them for someone else.