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A British woman was jailed for nine years Thursday after admitting supplying her son with heroin and crack cocaine between the ages of nine and 11, including at his school gates.
Drug addict Emma Kelly, 31, also plied the boy with hard drugs when he accompanied her on car trips in search of fresh supplies, Hove Crown Court, on England's south coast was told.
Kelly pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three charges of supplying Class A drugs to the child, who cannot be named under English law because of his age, and two counts of child cruelty.
Sentencing her Thursday, Judge Anthony Niblett told the former jockey she had betrayed her son, whom she knew was becoming increasingly dependent on the strong opiates.
The boy's addiction came to light when Kelly and her son were picked up for shoplifting in early 2005, prompting a search of their then-home in the coastal town of Eastbourne, which uncovered various drugs paraphernalia.
Judge Niblett criticised the local social services for not picking up on the "increasing number of warning signs" before the shoplifting arrest, including his non-attendance at school, and intervening sooner.
Kelly's defence lawyer told the court Wednesday her client's drug addiction began after the death of her partner in 1996. She was "truly disgusted" at her action and expressed her "utmost and sincerest" remorse.
The boy, now 12, is currently in foster care and said to be thriving and back at school.
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AFP 171724 GMT 08 06
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