A young mother searched by customs officers at Stansted Airport had £208,000 worth of cocaine strapped to her body, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

Paula Nedd, 33, of Marcouria, French Guyana admitted illegally importing 2.52 kilos of cocaine. She was jailed for five years on Friday.

James Fletcher prosecuting said Nedd arrived at Stansted Airport on November 5 with a young child on a flight from the Caribbean. When searched she was found to have bags taped to her legs and stomach. The three bags contained 100 percent pure cocaine with a street value of £208,000.

David Holborn, mitigating, said Nedd was the mother of four children and cared for three other children as well. She was in financial difficulties at the time and was offered £1,000 to act as a courier to bring in the drugs.

She knew she was facing a substantial sentence and was absolutely terrified of the prospect of going to prison.

Judge Gareth Hawksworth said a substantial sentence was needed to deter others but some mercy could be shown because Nedd had been placed under a great deal of pressure to carry the drugs.

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002