A defence lawyer told magistrates a woman caught with the class B drug amphetamine was taking it to control her weight.

Carlisle's Magistrates' Court heard that 50-year-old Angela Smith had three small wraps of the drug in her home freezer, as well as an amount of cannabis. Police also found a wrap of white powder in her handbag.

In court, Smith, of Dalton Avenue, Raffles, Carlisle, entered guilty pleas to possessing both the amphetamine and cannabis, also a class B drug.

Prosecutor Pamela Ward described how police raided the defendant's home on March 3, when Smith freely admitted to officers that she had what she called 'whizz' in her freezer.

As well as those drugs and some cannabis leaf, police also found a container with white powder in the bedroom.

“She doesn't have any recent convictions,” added Mrs Ward.

Rachel Dixon, for Smith, told the court: “The defendant had been taking the drug for three or four years to control her weight. It was not something she was addicted to or took every day.

“She'd hidden her use of this drug from her family and friends, and was very secretive about it. She was also ashamed and embarrassed.”

Referring to the cannabis, Miss Dixon said the drug found had belonged to somebody else and Smith had it because she intended disposing of it – probably by flushing it down a toilet.

“But she'd forgotten it was in her handbag,” said Miss Dixon.

The lawyer said that the defendant's last previous convictions – for assault and threatening behaviour – were 25 years ago and so should be disregarded.

Magistrates imposed two £80 fines for each drugs offence, together with an £85 costs order.

The national drugs advice group FRANK issues the following advice about amphetamine.

Despite the drug being illegal to possess, people take it because it gives them the energy to do things for hours without getting tired – things such as dancing, talking, and going out. But there are well documented risks.

These include making people overactive, agitated or even acutely psychotic (a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions). The high is generally followed by a long slow comedown, making you feel really irritable and depressed.

The drug also puts strain on your heart and can cause heart problems. There have been cases of people dying after taking too much amphetamine.