Dealers took over 'vulnerable' addict's home - and she ended up in court

A 'vulnerable' heroin addict who allowed her home to be used by county lines dealers to pay off a drugs debt has been spared jail. Emma Muirhead, 48, was caught red-handed trying to flush a bag of cannabis down the toilet when police raided her home on Boxhill Drive in Northern Moor, Wythenshawe, on October 10 last year.

During a search of the house, officers found 25g of ketamine, 220g of cannabis and bags of cocaine as well as a set of digital scales and three mobile phones, prosecutor Tobias Collins told Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

The raid was one of 32 warrants to take down a drugs supply line named 'Ace', the court heard. Mr Tobias said the prosecution accepted that Muirhead had allowed drug dealers to use her home to bag up drugs in order to pay off her own drugs debt.

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One of the phones seized from the home was attributed to Muirhead and police discovered a voice note in which the defendant said: "I've still got that thing on the scales. It's been sat there all f***ing night and day. What do you want me do to about it?"

The note suggested Muirhead was 'aware of the operation', said Mr Collins.

Muirhead was arrested and when interviewed told officers she was not involved in any organised crime gang or the supply of drugs but was simply a long-term drug user. She denied knowledge of the drugs found at the house and refused to name the dealers said to be using her property.

The defendant, who is addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, had 158 previous offences mainly for dishonesty related to her drugs habit, the court heard. She received a suspended prison sentence 15 years ago for attempting to supply heroin while