A YOUNG mother acquired a cocaine habit while suffering post natal depression, a court heard yesterday.

But 20-year-old Sarah Wood started to sell the class A drug to try to pay for her own supply during the few weeks of her addiction, Durham Crown Court was told.

Despite having no previous convictions, and having the children, aged two and ten months, to care for, Wood was jailed for 18 months.

The court heard that, last September, police executed a search warrant at her home at the time, in Shannon Way, Darlington.

There, they found nine wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of more than five grammes, hidden in a box of baby wipes.

Analysis showed they were 38 per cent purity, worth an estimated £509 in street value, said Jamie Hill, prosecuting.

Officers also found a short list of names and addresses of people she supplied with the cocaine.

Mr Hill said she was forthcoming at an interview, telling police she had developed the drug habit ten weeks earlier, after being offered cocaine at a nightclub.

She said she thought it would act as a slimming aid after giving birth.

When she became addicted, she had to resort to selling cocaine to others to pay for her supply.

Dan Cordey said in mitigation that she was vulnerable to those who pushed the drug, when she was suffering from depression.

He described her dealing as limited and "totally out of character".

Wood, now of Yarm Road, Darlington, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and supply.

Jailing her, Recorder Keith Crowson said he was sympathetic to her situation.

But he said: "Those who perpetuate the trade in class A drugs, and such an addictive one as this, have to receive sentences of custody."