FORMER drug dealers were praised by a judge for turning their lives around as he told one that prison would be 'very hard' for him.

Jodie Green and Paul Hines were both spared an immediate jail sentence at Worcester Crown Court on Monday even though Green was in breach of a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, imposed on her for dealing heroin.

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Green, who now has a child with her current partner, had been concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine while Hines had been concerned in the supply of cocaine in Malvern.

The 'cottage industry', as the prosecution called it, was dismantled following a raid by police on March 15, 2019 at a flat in Meadowsweet Court in Malvern. Both defendants were said to be acting under the direction of a man - Mel Kitchen - who had since died.

The offences also took place between the end of January 2019 and February 22, 2019 - three years ago and their solicitors, Jason Patel (for Hines) and Belinda Ariss (for Green), successfully argued that their clients were different people than when they carried out the offending.

Recorder Kevin Hegarty QC, who sentenced both, ultimately agreed with the defence submissions although he did say the dealing of class A drugs must result in a custodial sentence - but he was prepared to suspend.

Green, 29, of Orchard Court, Malvern received a 23-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Hines, 52, of Meadowsweet Court, Malvern received a two-year prison sentence which was also suspended for two years.

Addressing each defendant separately, he told Green she had a 'limited function' and 'lesser role' in the dealing. "You were acting, in effect, as a go-between placed between the person selling the drugs and some of the customers."

He added: "The factors that reduce the seriousness of the situation include the passage of time, not only from the offences on this indictment which are now over three years old but also the fact that the offences for which you received the suspended sentence must have been committed at some stage before July 14, 2016, possibly six years ago and certainly more than five and a half years ago.

"Since the matters on the indictment there has been a substantial change in your circumstances. To lead a life which is relatively drug-free and then ultimately drug-free is not a straightforward one.

"It has its ups and downs, its twists and turns. It's a prize worth fighting for."

Recorder Hegarty told Green there had now been a sustained period without her consuming any class A drugs. She had also not been charged with any criminal offending since.

In particular, he took account of a reference from Green's pharmacist who supplied her with her medication and was also, previously, her driving instructor.

"I'm particularly impressed by the letter from the pharmacy. Looking at you, you look very well indeed. All of these factors bring the sentence down considerably" he said.

For Hines he also factored in the passage of time since the offences - three years since the offending on the indictment - and what he called 'the genuine effort you have made to rehabilitate yourself'.

He described Hines as 'to a degree, vulnerable'. "Looking at you, you have been physically diminished by taking class A drugs. The judge counselled Hines to 'do your utmost' to avoid those people and places who acted as 'triggers' for him to take drugs. He warned him that if he did breach the suspended sentence order, he would go to jail.

"A 24-month prison sentence - at your age and with your medical condition - isn't something you're going to deal with easily at all. It will be very hard," the judge told him.