A WOMAN has admitted illegally supplying prescription-only drugs.

Kerry Marie Woodburn, of Egremont faced one charge when she appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday morning.

She was charged with the supplying of prescription-only medication not in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner.

Woodburn, who was dressed in light blue jeans and a grey puffa jacket, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The medication she was supplying is gabapentin, which is used to treat epilepsy and some types of persistent pain. Woodburn supplied the medication between January 1, 2018 and May 8, 2018.

The prescription drug gabapentin was reclassified as a class C controlled substance from April last year. The news was announced by the government in October 2018.

The move came after experts highlighted rising numbers of fatalities link to the drugs. The change to becoming a class C controlled dug means it is now illegal to possess gabapentin without a prescription and it is illegal to supply or sell them to others.

In 2016, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) raised concerns over medicinal misuse, illegal diversion of the drugs and addiction, and recommended that gabapentin should be controlled as class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The government accepted the ACMD’s advice and launched a public consultation to assess the impact on the healthcare sector.

Pharmacies, doctors, pharmaceutical companies and patients responded to the consultation backing the tighter controls of the drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.

During the short hearing, that has been adjourned for two weeks for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, Judge Peter Davies asked for the report to include more about the deceased and more about the drug.

Defending, Kim Whittleston explained to the court how she would be seeking further evidence from child services, as well as the reasons Woodburn had been prescribed the medication.

Woodburn, with the support of a close friend, has been rebuilding her relationship with her children.

Prosecutor Andrew Evans and Miss Whittlestone have until Wednesday, February 12 to prepare their pre-sentence reports.

Woodburn is due to be sentenced at Carlisle Crown court on February 14. In the meantime Woodburn has been granted unconditional bail by Judge Davies.

She was reminded that she must return to court on Friday, February 14 and before leaving the court had to set up an appointment for interview with a probation officer.