A COUPLE became involved in low-level drug dealing after being made subject of benefits sanctions, a court was told.

The “unsophisticated” operation came to light when police raided a rented property, in Wesley Terrace, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, on September 14 last year, and recovered amphetamines with an estimated street value of £2,370.

Durham Crown Court heard that three days earlier tenants Christine Coyle and Michael Gorog were, “given their marching orders” by their landlord, due to suspected drug-related activities and also because they had fallen into rent arrears.

Coyle, 30, now of Muriel Street, South Moor, Stanley, and Gorog, 24, who has been in custody for other matters since shortly after his arrest for the drugs offences, admitted possessing a class B drug with intent to supply.

Tony Davis, for Gorog, said he considered himself to be, “the junior partner” in the operation, while Vince Ward, for Coyle, said she took the “flawed decision” to sell drugs locally after sanctions were brought upon her at the Jobcentre.

Judge Simon Hickey imposed a two month jail sentence on Gorog and, due to her lack of previous similar offending, passed a ten-month sentence on Coyle, suspended for a year. She must also complete 20 Probation-supervised rehabilitation activity days.