A mother was given a last chance by a judge yesterday after a court heard she swallowed a wrap of drugs rather than hand it over to police.

Instead of jailing Melanie Davidson, 25, of Royal Crescent Lane, Scarborough, Judge Paul Hoffman ordered her to do 40 hours community service.

"I don't suppose you expected that," he said.

Davidson, who brought a large bag of personal possessions to York Crown Court thinking she would be sent to prison, promised to stay out of trouble in future.

She admitted obstructing PC David Wilson in the exercise of his powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but said the drug she swallowed was cannabis and not heroin as alleged by the prosecution. Davidson had been remanded on bail two weeks ago for the court to consider her claim.

Chris Tehrani, mitigating, said: " During that time she has been scared stiff. She expects prison and is frightened.

"As she waited to be called into court she was shaking like a leaf."

Judge Hoffman said: "The accused is claiming she swallowed the wrap of cannabis. It's anybody's guess what went into her system and I only hope she has learned her lesson."

The court heard Davidson swallowed the wrap when told to hand it over by the officer.

From the dock, Davidson thanked the judge and said she was now drugs-free and promised to remain so.