A MUM from Bridgwater has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after she and her boyfriend became involved in selling heroin and crack cocaine to pay off the man's £5,000 debt to his violent dealer.

Samantha Walford, of Longstone Avenue, and boyfriend James Beard, of Highbridge, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to conspiring to supply the drugs, after being caught dealing drugs by a lengthy police operation in Leamington Spa.

Also in the dock was Kelly Ellis, who the dealer had moved into their bedsit to keep an eye on Walford, aged 37, and Beard, aged 40.

Prosecutor Stephen Crouch said that for five days in November last year the police kept the couple's bedsit under observation and saw a number of callers arrive and tap the window before Beard or Walford came out to sell them drugs.

Beard then began to go to a nearby street where he was seen exchanging drugs for cash, and following one such exchange the police stopped the purchaser, who had wraps of heroin and crack cocaine, and Beard was arrested.

Police then raided the bedsit to arrest Walford, who had 45 wraps of heroin and six wraps of crack worth a total of £610 in her socks and £500 in cash, and Ellis.

Walford told officers she was frightened of Ellis, and that Beard was "working off" a £5,000 drug debt.

Beard confirmed he owed £5,000 to a dealer from whom he would get 30 wraps every other day to sell, and would have to pass all the proceeds to the dealer.

Mr Crouch that all three had previous convictions, but only Walford had been convicted of drug offences before.

Peter Freeman, representing mother-of-four Walford, said: "A more pathetic woman than this would be difficult to imagine. She has had a dreadful life and has been through a number of abusive relationships."

She was living in Bridgwater, but followed Beard to Leamington "out of loyalty" and became involved in the drug dealing, by making deliveries for him on a couple of occasions.

The surveillance began after Walford confided in her probation officer that she had become involved in drug dealing and had been threatened, and was advised to go to the police.

"Because of her limited involvement and her cry for help, I would urge you to say it is possible to be merciful in her case," submitted Mr Freeman.

And Nick Devine, representing Beard, said: "He wants it made plain that what has been said on behalf of Walford is entirely correct. She had nothing to do with the original set-up."

After building up the drug debt Beard was threatened and ordered to sell drugs to pay it off, and he was so fearful that in September he had told a police officer that he was being forced to deal in drugs.

He told officers he was about to receive a consignment and that the police could catch "the big-time player", but nothing was done.

Mr Devine added that after first being granted bail Beard's bedsit was firebombed as a warning not to talk.