Newtownabbey woman had cocaine and counterfeit goods

Donna Clarke, 55, from Antrim Road, was handed a suspended sentence for four offences arising from a police search of her home on September 26, 2012.

A prosecutor told Belfast Crown Court that during the search, officers located gloves, hats and boots bearing the UGG logo.

They also found 15 pairs of boots bearing the Paul’s Boutique logo, along with five jackets with the Lacoste logo.

The court heard that all the items “proved to be counterfeit”.

Also located during the search were 16 small bags containing 27 grams of cocaine.

The prosecutor said the Crown “accept there was someone more sinister in the background”, adding there was a “degree of pressure” placed on Clarke that fell just short of duress.

She subsquently admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and also three counts of trading in counterfeit products.

Defence barrister Des Fahy reiterated that “an individual was exerting a malignant influence” on his client.

Mr Fahy also revealed that Clarke was a carer for her mother, and that she had “significant health issues of her own”.

Judge Gordon Kerr QC handed Clarke a 30-month prison sentence, which was suspended for three years.