A GERMAN mother-of-two who fell into the world of drug dealing after falling in love with an addict has been spared jail.

Christine McCauley, 33, moved to Britain after marrying a soldier but was left isolated after they parted.

She then became involved with Barry Mason, whom she met while working as a chef near her husband's base, in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Mason, 28, had recently been released from a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for robbery and had been a heroin addict for ten years.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the pair set up home at Albany, Washington, Tyne and Wear, where they started dealing drugs from the doorstep.

The court heard that police began keeping the pair under surveillance after complaints by concerned neighbours.

They were arrested in August last year after being followed to a dealer's home, in Middlesbrough, and were found with more than £1,000 worth of heroin in their car.

A hearing was held at crown court yesterday where the pair gave evidence against each other in an effort to lessen their own involvement.

However, Judge David Wood accepted McCauley's evidence that she would never have been involved in drugs, had it not been for her love for Mason.

The judge told McCauley, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin: "Because you were in a relationship and in love with him, you foolishly allowed yourself to get involved."

Mason, who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply the drug, was jailed for five years.

Defence barrister Brian Russell said McCauley's involvement in the case was a "tragedy".

Roger Elsey, for Mason, said he was making a deter- mined effort to stay clear of heroin.