A DRUG dealer from Gronant was spared sentence by a judge after he heard how she needed major surgery following a car crash.

Shereen Kelly suffered serious injuries after the car she was a passenger in was in collision with a tree. Police attending the scene at Gronant Road, Prestatyn, found 90 packages of crack cocaine and heroin inside two Kinder eggs.

Kelly’s co-accused, Francie Keating, who was driving the Honda car at the time, walked free after a jury failed to reach a verdict on two charges of possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Kelly, 40, of Ffordd Marian, Gronant initially denied two charges of possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply, but before trial admitted two alternative counts of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine on January 6 last year.

She returned to Mold Crown Court to be sentenced, but after reading a medical report Judge Niclas Parry said he would defer doing so for six months to give Kelly the opportunity to undergo surgery to reverse a colostomy bag procedure.

“You were involved on a far greater scale than is set out on your basis of plea. But I take the view that you are a vulnerable person and my underlying concern is your medical condition,” said the judge.

“You have already suffered punishment and these are life-changing injuries and they must be addressed. It [the medical report] makes the risks clear, but the benefits of the operation are clear.”

Mr Keating’s trial last month heard how Kelly had to be cut out of the vehicle after the late-night crash while Mr Keating needed “life-saving” treatment from paramedics.

The pair were accused of dealing in crack cocaine and heroin under the guidance of a mystery man called “Scottish Dave” whose text messages appeared on mobile phones seized from the vehicle.

Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell said Kelly claimed she had never see the drugs before, but she admitted “scoring” drugs from “Scottish Dave”.

“On her phone were 80 calls between her and “Scottish Dave” in one day and a diary found in a locked safe contained numerous references to crack cocaine. Her fingerprints were found on the diary although it was said to have belonged to an ex-partner,” said Mr Rothwell.

Defence barrister James Coutts said: “She [Kelly] is a vulnerable, easily exploited person. She was clearly involved with people above her and she was at the bottom of the tree.

“She has undergone a very serious road traffic accident which had a devastating impact on her.”

The judge put sentencing back to the week beginning February 4 next year to give Kelly time to undergo treatment.

Mr Keating, 40, of Bangor Crescent, Prestatyn had not guilty verdicts recorded against him when the prosecution said there were no plans to pursue a retrial.