Woman in court after children found with drugs in system in Consett

Rebecca Bean was arrested after concerns were raised about the welfare of the children, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 25-year-old was discovered to have cocaine, ketamine and prescription drugs in her system at the time of her arrest after returning from McDonald’s and slurring her words.

James Yearsley, prosecuting, said there was a cannabis grinder and other paraphernalia in a house in Consett, County Durham, when social services and the police searched the property.

Tests revealed that both children had traces of cocaine in their system while one child had alcohol in their urine.

Bean, of Chapel View, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two charges of child neglect.

Michael Forrest, mitigating, said his client had pleaded guilty to the charges in this ‘tragic case’ at the earliest opportunity.

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He added: “She is mortified, remorseful and deeply ashamed of what happened after looking at the photographs.”

Recorder Mark McKone KC sentenced Bean to 12 months in custody suspended for 18 months and ordered her to attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

“You have good prospects of rehabilitation,” he said. “You have no previous convictions and you pleaded guilty.

“You now recognise the enormity of what you did or did not do. I don’t believe that you will take drugs again.”