A woman dealt cocaine for two months to “pay off her debts” a court heard

Sarah Garstang of Tulip Avenue was arrested after police discovered “scales, snap bags, a teaspoon and suspected traces of cocaine” stashed in a red metal box and hidden in her living room at her home in Kearsley.

(Image: Leah Collins)

A bundle of cash  of £3,700  was discovered in her bedroom as well as a debtors list of suspected clientele, a small stash of cocaine concurrent with “personal use” was confiscated at the scene.

A black Hermes handbag, which was placed in Ms Garstang’s wardrobe contained £2,800 in cash and blue latex gloves, as well as an iPhone that contained “drug-related” messages.

She pleaded guilty to possession  with intent to supply Class A substances and the possession of criminal property earlier this year.

The court heard that Ms Garstang supplied cocaine to around fifteen clients, who were “known drug users” and would buy cocaine for her on a regular basis.

Ms Garstang, also known as ‘Saj’, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder having discovered her deceased partner after he died due to suicide during lockdown in June 2020.

A fifty-page psychological report revealed that she began experiencing symptoms of PTSD six months later and was diagnosed in June 2021 and that it was “highly likely” Ms Garstang was suffering from symptoms whilst she was dealing.

The court heard that Ms Garstang was claiming around £1,400 a month in universal credit and had become addicted to cocaine leaving her “indebted to those who she was not prepared to name for fear of reprisals.”

She was described as “living well beyond her means” during her period of dealing cocaine.

She dealt the Class A drug for two months from January 2023 to March 2023, during which she made around “£250 per week” from sales and made around £1,700 in total.

Defence Benjamin Kaufman said: “Because she was in shock, suffering from trauma and distress as well as anxiety, depression and intrusive thoughts, Ms Garstang’s ability to make rational choices was impacted.

“Ms Garstang witnesses a traumatic event which she herself describes as ‘life-changing’. She was suffering from PSTD during the time that she was dealing and couldn’t fully understand the consequences of her own actions.”

The defence noted that there was an “element of pressure” on Ms Garstang, who had “no influence on those above her in the chain”.

Speaking to Ms Garstang, Judge  John Close said: “This case is exceptional in that you have dealt with a number of issues in your life – even before the incident occurring in 2020 - and showed remarkable resilience.

“The impact Class A drugs have wrecks lives and tears families apart.

“But this is not the full story in this case, the impact of your partner’s death was significant on you and your mental health, and you turned to dealing in order to finance your own addiction.

She has been sentenced to a two-year community order in which she must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.