A WOMAN who served as a dealer’s driver while he peddled drugs on the streets has been spared jail.

Kerry Lawley wept as judge John Lodge announced he would suspend her two-year sentence despite acknowledging she played a “significant role” in the operation.

Basildon Crown Court heard how in December 2017, Lawley, of St Luke’s Road, in Southend, offered to drive the dealer around Basildon while he sold crack cocaine and heroin to users.

On March 13 last year, the 31-year-old’s white Mercedes was boxed in by unmarked police cars after they witnessed known drug users picking up drugs from the car.

One of the drug users was interviewed by officers and they discovered he had a number called ‘T Line’ on his phone which linked him to the drug dealer.

When the dealer and Lawley were arrested and taken into custody, officers found £418 in cash and a tub of Vaseline in the car.

In the custody suite, the dealer disclosed he had Class A drugs hidden in his bottom.

Charlotte Davison, prosecuting, said: “He was subject to a strip search and was found with 15 wraps of heroin and 22 wraps of crack cocaine worth hundreds of pounds in street value.”

Number plate recognition data from the week prior showed Lawley’s car had been active every day in Basildon from morning until night.

Analysis of her phone showed she had made enquiries from someone called ‘Marcus’ about purchasing half a pound of cannabis and selling it to make profits for herself.

There were also messages informing the dealer that she was going to London to “reload” – to get more stock from an upstream seller.

Lawley admitted two counts of supplying Class A drugs and one count of supplying Class B drugs.

Sentencing her on Thursday, Judge Lodge said: “I take the view that you played a significant role. You chose to embark on drug dealing. You drove your co-accused round Basildon so he could deal Class A drugs.

“What’s quite clear is that since then, you have set out to put things right.”

Lawley was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for 18 months.

She must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 60 days of rehabilitation activities.