A woman from Witham was shown mercy at her sentencing for a drug offence, after the judge said she could be rehabilitated.

Leanne Griffiths, 29, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday (September 12) to face a charge of possession of cannabis with intent to supply. 

Griffiths was spotted by police in a skate park in Braintree on June 29 at about 8.45pm. 

The officers saw the defendant with another person and what seemed to be a drug exchange. 

Oliver Kelham, prosecuting, said the officers approached Griffiths and detained her after finding a number of bags filled with cannabis on her. 

Mr Kelham said the defendant admitted to having given it to another person at the scene. 

The officers found small deal bags and £150 in cash in her backpack, as well as more money in her coat pocket. 

A total of 19 wraps were seized, seven containing one gram of cannabis, and 12 containing 3.5 grams.

The street value of the drugs found was estimated at £370 to £430. 

Mr Kelham said: “She said she was not feeling very great and said she felt like she had to do this,” referring to the defendant's comments made to the arresting officers about her personal struggles at the time of the arrest. 

Griffiths, of Mann Close, admitted the charge and took some responsibility, despite initially distancing herself from the drugs, the court heard. 

Stephen Page, mitigating, said Griffiths had a “personal motivation to stay clear of criminality” and had made a “deliberate attempt to better herself”. 

He said: “She is ensuring she will take the necessary steps not to reoffend.” 

His Honourable Judge Alexander Mills addressed Griffith at the sentencing directly and made it clear that she should “do everything” to set her life on a better path as it was “not something you should engage in again”. 

He said: “You accept a degree of responsibility. You do present a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” 

Griffiths was given a 24-week suspended sentence, 160 hours of unpaid work and 20 hours of rehabilitation.