A 31-year-old Gambian woman used and exploited by a former boyfriend into keeping cocaine in her flat, has been jailed for seven months.
Belfast Crown Court Judge Patricia Smyth told Ida Joof that, while there were no aggravating factors in her case, the courts had made it clear that "those who play an important role in the drugs' trade" would go to jail.
Prosecutor Robin Steer told a previous hearing that having arrested Joof's boyfriend George Njoku in June 2012, who was eventually jailed for almost five years for his drug dealing, police went and searched flat at Station Road in Belfast.
The barrister added that Joof immediately pointed out two small suitcases, later found to contain just over 300gs of the Class A drug, together with other drug paraphernalia.
However, Mr Steer said it was accepted that her involvement was limited and stemmed from her relationship with her boyfiriend and that she had been effectively used by him to store the drugs in her home.
Defence QC Arthur Harvey said that Joof had been studying in England, but had moved to Belfast at the insistence of her boyfriend who had taken control of her life.
However, there was no suggestion that she was involved in his drug dealing, or in obtaining or distributing drugs.
Ordering that she serve seven months in jail, followed by a similar period on licence, Judge Smyth said Joof was entitled to substantial credit for her plea, which was of benefit to the prosecution.
