A CHESTER Crown Court judge gave a stark warning to two defendants guilty of drugs offences on Tuesday, June 25.

Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett took the unusual step in handing conditional discharges to both Connor Robbins, 23, of Clover Lane, Lache, Chester and Rachel Carey, 35, formerly of Bouverie Street Chester but now living in Princes Road, Ellesmere Port.

Both were individually linked with a third defendant who cannot be named at present.

Carey pleaded guilty to letting her Bouverie Street home be used as a premises for the class B drug cannabis to be stored.

Judge Everett said Carey had "fairly obviously had a hard life" with years of cocaine use and relationships with people who had been before the courts.

Stressing the dangers of class A drugs use, he warned her: "You will look in the mirror and see you look a lot older than you are. You only get one life and you have already shortened it, you have wasted all these years taking drugs.

"If you continue to take drugs you are going to be found dead in a ditch."

Robbins pleaded guilty to possessing Spice with intent to supply on two occasions in April 9 and April 17, 2018.

Judge Everett told Robbins he had been "lucky" to avoid a prison sentence, given that Robbins had been sentenced to 13 months in jail back in February for separate drugs offences.

But the court heard these additional offences happened long before Robbins was convicted for the other drugs crimes, which happened in August 2018, and the Crown Prosecution Service had not told the court about them.

Judge Everett concluded it would "not be fair" to send Robbins back to jail for a few additional months because the CPS had not informed the court, but warned him he would "not be as charitable" if he committed a crime during the conditional discharge.

Prosecuting, Frances Willmott told the court police conducted a search of Carey's bedsit in Bouverie Street on June 27, 2018, and found 300g of cannabis and £620 in cash.

She had no previous convictions but one caution for a drugs-related matter in 2003.

Defending, Chris Hunt said Carey had been addicted to cocaine in recent years but had recently gone clean.

The drugs belonged to the third defendant.

She had been "on the receiving end of terrible things in a variety of relationships that were best avoided," Mr Hunt told the court.

Judge Everett said: "You will forgive me for saying so, she looks like she has had a hard life."

Mr Hunt replied: "I have known her for 20 years, she has been in numerous relationships with people who have been through this courts, some of them are no longer alive.

"She has had mental health issues in the past."

For Robbins, Ms Willmott told the court Robbins was seen on a bench with the third defendant counting money and bagging something up on April 9, 2018.

A search was carried out and Robbins had 11g of Spice, some cash and other paraphernalia.

He was stopped on April 17, 2018 near the underpass by Chester Railway Station, where nine bags of Spice, £183 in cash and scales were recovered. His house was also searched on that day, with a "small amount" of Spice recovered.

In interview, he said he spent £30 a day on cannabis, and denied drug dealing.

Sentencing, Judge Everett handed Carey a 12-month conditional discharge and Robbins an eight-month conditional discharge.

The drugs found on Robbins were to be forfeited and destroyed, while the cash was to be put for the Cheshire Chief Constable's fund in aid of crime victims.

The judge warned both of them: "I am not going to preach to you, but...don't ruin your lives."