A BROMSGROVE woman charged with drug offences went on the run for 13 months before she surrendered to police.

Keri Pearson was found in possession of 46 pieces of cannabis when her former Bromsgrove home was raided, Worcester Crown Court heard.

But the pressure of the case and debts forced her to leave the area for Sheffield where she got a job in a pub and lived above the premises, said William Rickarby, defending.

Now she had returned to "face the music" and had spent the last six weeks in custody, he added.

Pearson, aged 23, who had lived in Byron Road, Catshill, pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis, possession of the drug and failing to surrender to bail. She was jailed for nine months.

When her flat was searched on September 6, 2000, the drugs were discovered in a suitcase hidden inside a cupboard, said prosecutor David Watson.

She admitted the stash was bought for £200 and confessed she sold four pieces of cannabis for £10 each. She hoped to make a profit of £100.

Pearson ran up rent arrears of £1,000 after agreeing to share the cost of the flat with a boyfriend, said Mr Rickarby.

But when their relationship broke up she was left with all the debts.

Another boyfriend, who was a drug dealer, suggested she sell cannabis to help alleviate her financial problems.

She had only been dealing a short time before she was caught.

Mr Rickarby said she was also questioned about other drug dealing after ecstasy was recovered from another woman's flat but she was never charged.

"The pressures led her to run away," he said.

"Coming back took some courage and showed a degree of realism."

Mr Rickarby said a third boyfriend had visited her in jail and was standing by her.

She was determined to reconstruct her life on her release and put drugs behind her.

Judge Michael Mott said he could only pass a custodial sentence for drug peddling and jumping bail.