THE former girlfriend of a heroin dealer, now inside for five years, has been given a chance to rebuild her life.

Exeter Crown Court heard 22-year-old Natasha Thomas used to be the partner of Carl Jones, a drug runner for senior members of a heroin cartel.

He was jailed last year after a judge said he was 'carrying the can for the bigger fish in the drugs world'.

Jones was caught in the undercover police Operation Boston supplying to plain clothes officers or introducing others who made up the chain.

He was trapped on surveillance cameras and eventually admitted seven heroin supply-related offences as well as burglary and shoplifting matters.

In jailing 28-year-old Jones of Haldon Road, Newton Abbot, Judge John Neligan told him: "You were the runner for the bigger fish who always manage to evade justice."

Thomas was originally on the same indictment as her boyfriend and faced two charges of possessing heroin with intent to supply it.

Her counsel, Charles Row, said Thomas was involved in packaging up the drugs and supplying them to Jones so they could be shared between them.

Mr Row said he had held discussions with the prosecution and it had been agreed if the charge of simple possession were laid against Thomas she would plead guilty on the basis she was only going to hand over the packages to Jones.

Prosecutor Howard Phillips said he had spoken to the lawyers and police involved in Operation Boston and that course was acceptable.

Thomas, of Chatsworth Road, Torquay, then pleaded guilty to two offences of possessing heroin and the possession with intent to supply charges were dropped.

Mr Row said this was an unusual case where Thomas had been a user of heroin, but the matters went back 12 months and she was now clean of the drug and had got her life back on track.

Thomas was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £150 towards the prosecution costs.