A WOMAN brought to safety from perimeter railings on a busy road bridge was found in possession of drugs, a court heard.

Police officers came across Fay Feetum acting strangely on Milburngate Bridge, over the River Wear, in Durham, on the night of November 12, 2005.

Durham Crown Court was told she had climbed over the railings, but an officer managed to pull her to safety.

Barry Robson, prosecuting, said she was found in possession of two bags of white powder, weighing 11.8 grams, plus £180 in cash.

During a subsequent search of her home, two more bags of a similar substance, weighing a total of 48.1 grams, were found.

Tests confirmed the powder was a low purity form of amphetamines, also known as speed.

Mr Robson said she told police the drugs were for the use of her and her partner - both have a history of amphetamine abuse.

Feetum, 22, of Bede Terrace, Bowburn, admitted possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply, on the basis it was merely for her partner and herself to share.

Kathryn Dunn, mitigating, said Feetum has suffered mental health difficulties, possibly brought on by her drug abuse.

Having read reports on Feetum, Judge Tony Lancaster told her he accepted the drugs retrieved were to feed the addiction of her and her then partner.

"That drug use has had consequences on your mental health as the medical report has made clear, making you feel extremely unwell in the process."

He said a community sentence might help her attempts to overcome her drug addiction.

He imposed a community order with an 18-month probation supervision requirement.