A Southend woman who has spent the last two-and-a-half years behind bars in the Middle East has just been freed.

Anna Bartlett, 24, of Sandringham Road, was today unexpectedly granted a royal pardon just a quarter of the way through her ten-year sentence, having previously been convicted of drug trafficking in the United Arab Emirates.

Ms Bartlett had admitted taking hashish and cocaine into the country but had denied intending to sell or use the drugs.

However, in 2001 she was convicted at the Sharia Court in Ras al Khaimah of "using, trafficking and importing drugs" and also fined £10,000.

For more on this story see tomorrow's Evening Echo newspaper

Published Monday, June 2, 2003