A Craigavon woman who attempted to hide cocaine from police by placing it in her bra has been handed a suspended sentence.
The district judge warned the 27-year-old: “If you are before the court again for anything similar, you will be going to prison.”
Kerrie O’Hagan, of Rowan Park, appeared for sentencing on possession of Class A and possession of Class A with intent to supply at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that at 7pm on August 15, of last year, police stopped a BMW near Richhill and observed the defendant appearing to hide something in her clothing.
A female was called to assist in a search of O’Hagan, during which white powder suspected to be cannabis was located in her bra.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and cautioned and a further search was carried out at her home address.
During this, police seized 60g of cocaine valued at approximately £600 along with allied paraphernalia including scales.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson accepted that O’Hagan was “lucky” that the case did not proceed in the Crown Court, commenting that this was due to her “lack of record”.
He stated: “She has been assessed by probation as having a low likelihood of reoffending, with her describing herself wrongly as a social drug user.
“Someone had asked her to take drugs from Portadown to Armagh. She accepts that as the intent to supply charge. She was candid in telling probation she had taken drugs once or twice since the incident but she has instructed she has now stopped.”
District Judge Rosie Watters stated: “Be in no doubt, this is a serious offence. You are committing an offence when you are in possession of any illegal substance.
“If you are before the court again for anything similar you will be going to prison.”
O’Hagan was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for a period of three years.
