Grandmother in court on drug charges ahead of 70th birthday next month

Denise Darlow has admitted possessing with intent to supply cocaine, amphetamines and benzodiazepine.

The 69-year-old was found with some drugs in the pockets of her clothing after police searched her home in Romany Lane, Tilehurst, a judge was told.

Prosecutor Jane Davies told how just over 15 grams of cocaine was found at the address, just over 234 grams of amphetamine and a quantity of benzodiazepine.

Clare Evans, defending, said Darlow had admitted the offences on a basis of plea that she had mainly just been allowing her premises to be used by her son.

“He was not dealing from her house and she did do some small orders for bags”, Ms Evans said. “She knew what was going on. She was often finding drugs in her house.”

Ms Evans added Darlow was not a drug user and had never used drugs but would sometimes pick up the drugs she discovered in her house and place them in her pockets so they would not be lying around when her grandchildren came to visit.

The court heard that a £1,000 Rolex watch was also discovered at Darlow’s property, but Ms Evans said this had since been returned to the defendant by the police and said it had been legitimately purchased by her husband with money the couple made from renting out some properties.

Darlow faced a “very difficult situation” because her son lived nearby and could access her garden from the front of her property, the lawyer added.

“He had free access to her house. She accepts of course she should have stopped it, but she did not, she was frightened by him. He is a man who has been convicted of violence.”

The court heard that the son, who was not named in court, had died last year of a prescription drug overdose.

Judge Sarah Campbell pointed out that the offences had taken place in 2020 and said the case had taken a “ridiculously long time” to come to court.

Another hearing was scheduled for June 4 so that the Crown Prosecution Service could consider Darlow’s basis of plea.