A pregnant mother was spared a prison sentence after she was bullied into drug offences by her estranged partner.

Alvita Haselhurst, 21, was one of several people arrested for drug offences when police swooped on her home, in Coleman Street, Southend.

Haselhurst, who has a 15-month-old daughter, is expecting her second baby.

She was said to have been threatened by the father, Darren Walton, who received a three-month jail sentence following the raid.

Prosecutor Valerie Charbut told Basildon Crown Court Haselhurst made it clear she was not happy about drugs being kept at her home and hated addicts coming and going as they pleased.

However, Haselhurst pleaded guilty to supplying 34 ecstasy tablets and more than six grams of cannabis resin.

Her barrister, Diane Pigot, urged the judge not to send her to prison after saying she was pressured into offending by Walton.

Haselhurst was told by the judge, Mr Recorder David Polden: "I accept your partner's behaviour placed you in an impossible position."

He sentenced Haselhurst to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. She must also pay £200 court costs.

Published Monday, April 14, 2003

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