A Spalding woman caught selling drugs at a nightclub in the town narrowly escaped an immediate jail sentence.
Melissa Elam was seen by another customer selling the drug in the toilets of Loaded and the incident was reported to door staff.
At Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday, Phil Howes, prosecuting, said police were called and when Elam was searched she had eight wraps of the M-Cat derivative NRG on her.
She also had small amounts of both cocaine and cannabis which were for her own use.
Mr Howes said “There were searches of her home address and another smaller amount of M-Cat was found there along with a small amount of cannabis resin.”
Elam’s mobile phone was checked and found to contain messages which indicated she was involved in selling drugs.
Elam (20), of Severn Road, admitted possession of drugs with intent to supply on March 11, 2012. She also admitted illegal possession of both cocaine and cannabis.
She was given an eight-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months with 300 hours’ unpaid work.
Judge Sean Morris ordered her to pay over £157 which was ruled to be her benefit from drug dealing.
The judge told her: “People who peddle drugs in nightclubs must expect a prison sentence but this is an exceptional case.
“Let nobody think they will get similar treatment if they come before these courts for dealing in drugs. You have escaped going away by the skin of your teeth.”
Neil Sands, defending, said Elam had never been in trouble before and the offences happened at a difficult time in her life.
He said that Elam met some new friends and was introduced to M-Cat. She began using up to £25 worth a day of the drug as a way of helping her overcome her problems.
Mr Sands said “This was a period of five weeks when she became a completely different person. Since she has done everything in her powers to put matters right.”