A Mother-OF-TWO has been spared Christmas in prison by a judge who told her: "This has been a traumatic year for you - but it's going to end on a good note."

Karen McDonagh avoided be-ing sent to jail despite being found guilty of possessing Ecstasy with intent to supply, and admitting producing cannabis in the basement of her County Durham home.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, gave McDonagh a two-year pri-son sentence suspended for two years, with a supervision order to run throughout that time.

Teesside Crown Court had heard how 42 cannabis plants were found, along with growing equipment, when police raided 35-year-old McDonagh's home in Wolsingham on New Year's Eve last year.

Stephen Ashurst, prosecuting, said some dried cannabis leaves and a small quantity of cannabis resin - probably worth only £2 - were also discovered during the search.

Ten days later, officers returned to McDonagh's home and searched a vehicle in the garage where they found some more cannabis, and a drum where a plastic bag containing 80 Ecstasy tablets was stuffed.

McDonagh told police she bought the pills in bulk just before last Christmas so she could save between £200 and £300 and that they were not for commercial re-sale. A jury found her guilty earlier this year of intending to sell at least some of the Ecstasy, and the case was adjourned so McDonagh could be sentenced on all the charges.

Paul Cleasby, defending, asked for credit to be given for McDonagh's guilty pleas to the cannabis possession and cultivation charges, and told Judge Fox his client had spent the last year seeking help and had regular drug tests, which have all been negative.

McDonagh, of Bowlees Farm Cottages, Wolsingham, wiped away tears as Judge Fox said: " I am not going to sentence you to prison, but I can't put you on probation either as that would be sending out the wrong message."