A SMALL scale cannabis dealer from Okehampton has been ordered to receive rehabilitation after she was found with drugs in her handbag.

Annie Bryant had herbal cannabis ready for sale in plastic bags placed inside a sandwich bag when she was stopped by police while driving through Okehampton.

Officers also found a set of scales and two phones, one of which had numerous texts to and from customers, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Bryant, aged 24, admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply and simple possession of heroin and was ordered to undertake drug rehabilitation as part of an 18 months community order.

Recorder Ms Elizabeth Bussey-Jones told her: ‘The police drugs liaison officer described you as a small scale cannabis dealer selling to a relatively select group of associates.

‘It was a significant role because there was some financial advantage but there are no aggravating features and there are factors reducing seriousness.

‘I have heard from probation about how you pro-actively sought drug rehabilitation and one phrase which you said to them particularly caught my attention. You said you did not want this life.

‘It is not suggested you were making substantial profits and I couple that with your remorse and lack of relevant previous convictions.’

Mr Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said Bryant was stopped in a car with her boyfriend on February 15 in Okehampton and a large sandwich bag containing cannabis was seized from her handbag.

She said it was for her personal use but there were scales and incriminating messages were found on her phone. The 25 grams of cannabis were worth £73.

A miniscule amount of heroin in a piece of foil was also recovered.

Mr Lee Bremridge, defending, urged the judge to follow the recommendations of a probation pre-sentence report which said Bryant has been using cannabis since she was 11 and wanted help to combat her use of drugs.