A young cocaine courier, who swallowed £50,000 worth of the drug before boarding a flight from Jamaica, was locked-up for two years-and-four months today.
Amy Hinchcliffe, 20, of Willow Lane, Huddersfield was intimidated by a "heavyweight crowd" into agreeing to put her life at risk by becoming a drugs 'mule'.
She pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to importing 324 gms. of 70% pure cocaine at Gatwick Airport on February 25.
Prosecutor Mr. Julius Capon told the court: "Miss Hinchcliffe arrived on a BA flight from Kingston and was spoken to by customs officers, who ascertained she was travelling alone and they had a conversation about drugs.
"She said she knew importation of drugs was illegal and because they had concerns she may have swallowed something they suggested she take a body scan."
This was abandoned after Hinchcliffe (pictured) raised the possibility she may have been pregnant.
"A urine sample was taken, which confirmed traces of cocaine, and she was taken to a suite where she eventually produced thirty-four packages of cocaine," added Mr. Capon.
"She admitted she had swallowed the packages under an element of pressure and coercion so she does come under a laser role for sentencing purposes."
The Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon read letters penned by Hinchcliffe's parents, her sister and the defendant herself, which explained a troubled background and difficulties growing up.
The court heard an older, unnamed person threatened physical violence against the defendant when persuading her to smuggle the cocaine, but her defence lawyer accepted it fell short of duress.
"She has had a difficult upbringing and was subjected to intimidation and pressure to engage in this extremely dangerous exercise that could have killed her," announced Judge McKinnon.
"How sad this is that after two minor skirmishes with the law you get in with the wrong heavyweight crowd who are into hard drugs," he told Hinchcliffe.
"You got pressured into it and the intimidation was real, I have no doubt, causing you to risk your own life by swallowing thirty-four packets of cocaine.
"If one of them had broken you would be dead."
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