A DRUG dealing granny who supplied her sons to pay off mammoth gas bills, has escaped jail.

Margaret Jean Hunt, a 52-year-old with 12 grandchildren, had never used cannabis but her life had been "turned upside down" by a foolhardy dip into the drug scene, Burnley magistrates heard.

Hunt was given 80 hours community service and must pay £55 costs, after earlier admitting supplying cannabis resin and possessing the drug with intent to supply, on January 18.

John Wood, prosecuting, said police saw somebody leave Hunt's home on Coleridge Close, Colne, and stopped them. The defendant's home was searched and a small amount of cannabis seized. Hunt told officers she had been selling cannabis for about two-and-a-half months.

Stephen Brown, defending, said until January, Hunt was effectively of good character. Her appearance before magistrates had had a profound effect upon her and she had been extremely worried.

Hunt claimed she had been paying gas bills of £500 a quarter - even though her cooking and heating were electric and very little gas was being used.

Mr Brown said Hunt had only been selling cannabis to her sons and over the six to eight weeks she was stupidly involved, she bought a maximum of two ounces. The maximum profit she had made was between £10 and £20, which was quite ridiculous when one looked at the amount of trouble that it had landed her in.

Hunt had not been out since the case became public knowledge and was ashamed of what she had done.

Mr Brown went on: "The defendant has learned her lesson.

"Her sons have now left home, her debt situation appears to be under control and she is still in negotiation with the gas board.

"She still feels she will be able to meet whatever the final figure is."

Mr Brown added: "Her life has been turned upside down by a foolhardy dip into the drug scene."

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