TWO 'hard-working' women from Kinmel Bay have avoided a jail sentence despite playing a role each in a drugs conspiracy.

Jessica Berry, 29, and Angelina Stradling, 41, both of Llys Glanrafon, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, December 20.

They each faced a charge of conspiring to produce a Class B drug, namely cannabis.

Stradling had previously pleaded guilty to the charge on July 11 this year, while Berry had pleaded not guilty but later changed her plea to guilty ahead of a proposed trial on November 14.

Also appearing before the court were Christopher Rutter, 40, of Tan Y Gwalia, Denbigh and Daniel Crossley, 37, of Frances Avenue, Rhyl, who faced the same charge.

Ember-Jade Wong, prosecuting, told the court how Stradling had bumped into Crossley in Towyn, with the former owing a £2,000 drug debt to the latter.

In order to 'wipe the debt clean', Crossley asked to use Stradling's home address as a place to grow cannabis and she agreed to do 'just the one grow'.

Ms Wong told the court how Stradling claims she had 'no choice' in the matter and that she had 'felt intimidated' by Crossley although no threats were used.

Stradling's partner Berry claimed she had 'no prior knowledge, involvement of influence' in the conspiracy and the court heard that she 'did not gain financially in any way'.

The court was told that both Rutter and Crossley were involved with advising and offering guidance on how to grow these crops. Both would also take turns to visit Stradling's property 'three to four times a week' to keep an eye on the crops.

A police search of Rutter's address on May 5 2021, found two plants of his own in an upstairs bedroom and further evidence of harvestation in the cellar.

The value of those was estimated to be between £8,400 and £25,200.

Cannabis oils, as well as notebooks full of drawings and plans for further projects were also discovered at Rutter's address.

Described as a 'gardner' in the conspiracy, Rutter provided 'plant care advice' to Stradling, the court heard.

On May 26, 2021, police conducted a search of Stradling's home in Kinmel Bay and found six plants in a spare upstairs bedroom.

Among other items found and seized at the property were; two tubs of cannabis buds, 24 plant crops which had cultivated and harvested and an envelope of cash.

Stradling told police officers that the operation had 'nothing to do with Berry'.

The 24 plants found at the property weighed, according to the drug expert's report, an approximated 1.7kg and were worth between £10,800 and £13,200.

Mobile phone devices seized at the property found signs of contact between all four defendants.

Sentencing the four, Judge Niclas Parry described both Berry and Stradling as 'hard-working' women.

He added that Berry had acted 'out of loylaty' to her partner and that Stradling had acted 'under some feeling of pressure'.

Berry was handed a conditional discharge and Stradling was given a six-month jail sentence which was suspended for 12 months.

Crossley, who played a significant role, was told that 'everybody was in court beacause of your project'.

He was handed a 16-month sentence, to run concurrently with a sentence he is already serving 10 years for his involvement in a seperate drugs conspiracy.

Rutter was given a sentence of 9 months.