Sunderland mother hid cocaine inside Kinder Surprise chocolate egg

Rachel Ferguson had stuffed the substance inside the plastic core of a Kinder Surprise chocolate egg.

The item was found to contain white powder when the 26-year-old was searched as a passenger in a vehicle on November 8, last year, Sunderland magistrates heard.

A quantity of cannabis resin was also found on her person at the time, the court was told.

Prosecutor Lee Poppett said: “This offence took place at about 11am, when police observed a motor vehicle.

“Miss Ferguson is a passenger on that motor vehicle and she finds herself arrested as a result of other enquiries.

“When she is searched, two items are found within her jeans – an amount of cannabis resin in a clear bag and a Kinder egg with white powder.

“This was in due course sent off for field testing, which confirmed it was cocaine.”

A total of 1.7g of cocaine was found, with a street value of £120.

Ferguson told officers the drugs were for her own personal use, the court heard.

She was also dealt with a shoplifting offence, from June 26.

Mr Poppett said: “This is a shop theft dating back to summer last year.

“CCTV footage showed Ms Ferguson, along with a co-accused, attended the Co-op in Amble.

“A male and a female were seen selecting meat and razor blades.

“Unfortunately we can not ascertain how much was taken.”

Ferguson, of Hastings Street, Hendon, admitted possession of a Class A drug, possession of a Class B drug and theft.

Heather Bolton, defending, said: “She is a lady of previous good character and she is disappointed that she finds herself before the court.

“The defendant is not a drug user. She is a single mother of a five-year-old child.

“Her benefits were stopped in May. She tried to manage financially on child benefits and a small amount of tax credits.

“Her ESA stopped completely. She resorted to the offence of theft to get by.

“She was arrested for an unrelated matter and she told police she had these drugs on her.

“She is not addicted to substances and given this is the first time she has been before the court, I ask you to deal with the matter without probation becoming involved.”

Ferguson was fined £120 and was told to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £50.

The bench ordered forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.