A WOMAN who had cocaine worth more than £1,300 stashed in her bedroom gave up the drug after being prosecuted, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Shelley Jones, aged 26, claimed, during a trial last month, the drug was for her own use. She was acquitted by a jury of possession of 20.4 grammes of cocaine with intent to supply but admitted possession, said Michael Aspinall, prosecuting.

Jones, of Rothesay Mead, Hereford, was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid community work.

The drugs, with a street value of £1,326, were discovered by police inside a stereo in her bedroom. Jones was of previous good character.

Nicolas Cartwright, defending, said she used the drug as a crutch to overcome personal difficulties - but her prosecution had proved an incentive to quit.

The mother-of-four had learned her lesson and would not be before the courts again.

Judge Michael Mott told her that, if the trial gave her a fright to keep off drugs, "all well and good". Because it was a substantial quantity of cocaine she had risked prison, he added. If she became involved with drugs again, custody was likely.