A woman who dealt cannabis to fund her drug habit has been spared jail and given a suspended prison sentence.

Crystal Smith was selling the drugs from her Melksham flat, after buying in bulk to keep her own costs down.

The 23-year-old was rumbled when the police raided her home last July and found drugs and cash.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said officers found 17 wraps of cannabis, weighing just under an ounce in total, and £140 in cash.

Her phone was littered with references to the trade in drugs, such as, ‘I’ve been reloaded so I can now supply’ and references to ‘an eighth.’

She admitted what she had been doing, saying she would buy half an ounce and break it up to sell and also to smoke personally.

Smith, of Bank Street, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply at Swindon Crown Court.

Mark Ashley, defending, said she had been dealing for a little while, supplying people she knew.

He said a probation officer’s report recommended she got help for her drug problems rather than being subjected to an immediate custodial term.

Recorder Maria Lamb said: “I can see, from the pre-sentence report, that there is a good deal of background here, but you must understand how seriously the court views offences of supplying.

“There is no doubt, from the messages on your phone, you had been involved in supply for some time.

“It puts drugs back into the system and you know from your experience the sort of difficulties drugs cause in people’s lives.

“Anyone who comes to court involved in that activity stands to be dealt with quite harshly.”

She imposed a 24-week sentence, suspended for a year, put Smith on a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered she forfeit drugs and cash.