Jail for woman who had £230,000 of cocaine in her boot - and said she thought she was moving stolen make-up

Kimberley Tate, 27, said she thought she was moving stolen cosmetics after pleading not guilty to possessing the class A drug with the intent of supplying it to others.

But a jury convicted her following a trial at Preston Crown Court – with police today welcoming the sentence.

Following the court heaing, Ch Insp Lee Wilson, from Blackpool Police, said: “When Tate was stopped, she was in possession of a large quantity of cocaine, which would undoubtedly have brought misery to the streets of Blackpool, and which have now been taken out of circulation.

“I hope this sentence will send a message that the supply and distribution of drugs will not be tolerated in Lancashire, and we will continue to target, and deal with proportionately and robustly, those who put our communities at risk in this way.”

Tate, of Henderson Avenue in Wakefield, Yorkshire, was stopped by officers on the westbound carriageway of the M55 in November.

An investigation later revealed the journey was the second of two trips to Blackpool Tate was planning.

Police recovered the drugs from the boot of the car she was travelling in, which they said had a wholesale value of £80,000 to £100,000.

However, if the drugs had made it to Blackpool, the cocaine would have had a street value of around £230,000, officers said.

A 25-year-old woman, also from Wakefield, who was arrested at the same time at Tate was released and faced no charges in connection with the investigation.