Pet shop owner caught dealing drugs

A pet shop owner was caught supplying amphetamine twice within a month, a court head.

Nadine Clark, aged 32, warehoused the drugs for dealers who took advantage of her own habit.

She has since lost her business and her trader's licence after police searched her shop in Plymouth City Market, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

But Clark avoided jail after a judge heard she had kicked the drugs and broken away from dealers linked to a previous partner.

She admitted she did not sell amphetamine on the street but held the drugs at her home in Ipswich Close, Whitleigh, for those who did.

Handing her a suspended prison sentence, Judge Paul Darlow said she had impressed a probation officer and he could take into account the steps she had taken to move away from crime.

Clark, who has since moved home, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

She also admitted simple possession of Valium and two counts of possession of cannabis.

Garth Richardson, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police raided her home on August 1 last year.

He added officers found six grams of amphetamine and a list of names next to amounts of money – a dealer's list.

Mr Richardson said police searched her home on August 28 and this time found 120 grams of amphetamine worth £1,271, plus digital scales often used to measure deals.

The court heard that police had spotted known drug users coming and going from the home.

Ali Rafati, for Clark, said she had worked for 16 years and had opened her own pet shop in the former pannier market.

He added she had been asked to leave after police searched the shop and had lost her trader's licence.

The court heard she had started using amphetamine to cope after the death of her partner, the father of her child.

Mr Rafati said another partner had trashed her home.

He added: "Her life has been focussed on and to some degree run by men."

She was handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 25 days working intensively with probation to tackle the problems behind her offending.
Clark must also pay £140 victim surcharge.