A 26-year-old Inverness woman begged to be jailed yesterday so she could beat her heroin addiction.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told Stephanie Rennie had descended into drug abuse six years ago when her partner died.
But although her lawyer Willie Young had urged her to take part in a drug treatment and testing assessment, Rennie told him she would fail and wanted to be jailed.
Mr Young told Sheriff Chris Dickson: “She has made numerous attempts to get help and she now hopes that a period of custody will put her life in some sort of order and then she can make a fresh start when she secures her liberty.”
Rennie, of Upper Kessock Street, admitted being concerned in the supply of 25.73g of heroin, with a maximum street value of £3,740. She also pleaded guilty to failing to appear for an earlier court hearing.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley told the court that police were walking through the Victorian Market on October, saw Rennie and had cause to search her.
“Plastic bags containing a substance were found and on analysis, there were found to be three packets containing 1.35g, 12.1g and 11.8g of heroin.”
Mr Young said: “The background here is that she has struggled with heroin addiction for six years following the death of her partner when she was only 20.
“At the time of this offence, she was heavily addicted and her lifestyle had become chaotic, to say the least. She had obtained a small amount for her own use.
“But she had to deposit the remainder of the drugs at a fire exit of the Co-op supermarket in Telford Street. That was about the extent of her supply.”
Jailing Rennie, who sat weeping in the dock, for a total of 200 days, Sheriff Dickson told her: “This is a serious offence and only a custodial sentence is appropriate in the circumstances.
“I note what your lawyer has had to say and I will restrict the period of imprisonment.”