A WOMAN who ditched drugs behind a wheelie bin when she was caught dealing in an alleyway has avoided jail.

Jenny Peake, of Porter Drive, Northwich, was spotted in an alley in the town, between Greenall Road and Victoria Road, by patrolling plain-clothed police officers on October 17 last year.

The 47-year-old was seen passing to pass an item to a man who was a known drug user.

After clocking the officers, Peake dropped an item behind a wheelie bin while the man appeared to swallow the drugs he had purchased.

Both were searched and Peake was found in possession of a small amount of cash, with a wrap of illegal drugs discovered near the wheelie bin. A search of the man turned up negative.

Peake was arrested at the scene before officers carried out a section 32 search at her former Victoria Road home, where further cash and mobile phones were discovered.

After being charged with, and pleading guilty to, possession of crack cocaine and two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (crack and heroin), Peake appeared at Chester Crown Court today for sentencing.

Magistrates handed her a two-year sentence, suspended for 18 months.

During the police investigation, police discovered messages on one of the recovered phones showing Peake had actively been dealing drugs in the area.

She had sent ‘flare’ messages to other drug users in the area offering to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

When questioned, Peake admitted the illegal drugs found in the alley were hers, however she claimed they were for personal use.

She also told officers there were a number of messages relating to the sale of illegal drugs on her phone but claimed she was not responsible for them.

Following her sentencing, Detective Constable Adam Cupples, of Northwich Proactive Policing Team, said: "Illegal drugs can have a devastating impact, not only drug users, but also the community around them.

"Here in Northwich, we are doing all we can to stop drug activity on our streets to make the town a safer place to live and visit, while also making it extremely difficult for these offenders to operate.

"We will always act on any information about drug activity provided to us and would urge anyone who believes this activity is happening near to them to get in touch."