A WOMAN admitted selling cannabis from her home to pay for her use of the drug.

Durham Crown Court was told that mother-of-three Jean Hodgson began using the drug to relieve stress, while suffering insomnia after the break-up of her marriage.

Amanda Perry, mitigating, said she made a handful of sales to fund her own habit.

She had only carried out ten transactions over a two-day period when police raided her house, on Bishop Auckland's Woodhouse Close estate, last August.

Nick Peacock, prosecuting, said nine pieces of cannabis resin were recovered.

Hodgson, 40, of Walker Drive, admitted being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, and possession of cannabis.

She was give 12 months probation, with 100 hours' community service.