Colne drug users who tried to live normal lives by masking addiction jailed for dealing on streets

Amy Macsween and Michael Watson, were sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

The court heard how the couple, who have an eight-year-old daughter, had been regular drug users for many years, but had managed to hold down steady jobs and pay their mortgage, feeding their addictions by foregoing luxuries such as holidays and nights out.

Defending Macsween, Roger Brown told the court: "They were able to cover their addictions and one of the points my client makes is effectively they had to use the class A drugs to maintain a respectable and ordinary way of living, otherwise they would have been in withdrawal."

However, in 2019, Macsween's work prospects worsened and the 44-year-old began working part time, meaning the couple could no longer fund their addiction and pay their mortgage and other household bills.

Mr Brown continued: "They fell into the system of becoming drug dealers and using the drugs they had purchased, selling what they could to cover their own habits."

This all came to a head in 2021, with prosecuting barrister Laura Broome telling the court that on January 10 a drugs warrant was executed on their home address in Curzon Street in Colne, where police found a quantity of drugs, believed to be heroin, crack and cannabis, as well as mobile phones containing text messages to potential customers, and a 'tick list' with names and numbers on.

The estimated street value of the drugs was around £830.

Ms Broome said: "They were both arrested and interviewed and Macsween told police they had been selling drugs to friends but weren't making a profit.

"Watson gave a similar account.

"They were released on bail under investigation."

However, they were both charged with identical offences in September, as while on bail, Macsween was stopped by police on Basil Street in Colne, and wraps of drugs found in her jeans and jacket pockets.

A subsequent search of Macsween and Watson's house was again carried out and officers found tools, scales, and bags of class A drugs under the floorboards in the bedroom.

Ms Broome said: "The value of these drugs was around £910. They were arrested again and interviewed but provided no comment answers.

"They then appeared at Blackburn Magistrates and pleaded guilty to all charges."

Mr Brown said the lack of expectation of any financial advantage should be taken into account when passing sentence on the couple, who were of previous good character.

Kristian Cavanagh, defending Watson, 46, agreed with Mr Brown and said his client, along with Macsween, had never served custodial sentences.

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Jeffries said: "The mitigation available to you is considerable. You are both users. You have been for a long time.

"Both of you are of good character, which has now gone.

"You have an eight-year-old daughter who is sadly now going to be parentless for a period of time.

"So allowing for the circumstances and significant mitigation, the least sentence I can impose is 32 months."

Macsween and Watson, both of Curzon Street were sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.