Jail warning for Norwich woman over class A drugs offences

Karen Strange was arrested at her Priory Road home in Hethersett following a police raid in which class A drugs were discovered.

Priory Road, Hethersett (Image: Google)Following the raid at her home on March 2 this year Strange appeared at Norwich Crown Court when she admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely cocaine and diamorphine, between December 20 2022 and March 3 2023.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)During the plea and trial preparation hearing (PTPH) on Wednesday (October 18) Strange entered not guilty pleas to two charges of possessing cocaine and diamorphine with intent to supply on March 2 2023 and another charge of arranging or facilitating the travel of a person for exploitation.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said the pleas were acceptable to the crown in that it was accepted she was "not organising or managing this particular enterprise".

Karen Strange leaving court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Lori Tucker, representing Strange, said the pleas had been entered on a basis that she had acted in the way that she did within the confines of a "controlling and coercive relationship with another".

While she would not name the individual Mrs Tucker said "he's a name very well known to this court".

Mrs Tucker said there were "drugs found in the safe" that she would say belonged to that other person.

Karen Strange leaving Norwicn Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)But the defence barrister added: "It's accepted they were in her house".

Judge Andrew Shaw adjourned sentence until December 14 so a pre-sentence report could be carried out but warned Strange all options remained open.

Judge Andrew Shaw (Image: Newsquest)He said: "You need to understand that even for those with a lesser role, dealing controlled drugs of class A almost always results in immediate sentences of imprisonment."

Judge Shaw warned Strange that even though he had adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report, "all options, including immediate imprisonment" remained open.

Strange was granted conditional bail prior to sentence.