The heavily-pregnant wife of a drug dealer wept as she was told she would not face jail immediately – despite it being claimed she was only having a child for sympathy.
Mariama Bojang, 34, convicted of one count of money laundering more than £800 gained from drug dealing and possession of cannabis, instead received a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
Her partner-in-crime, husband Lamin, 34 – who she vowed not to live with again until he got on the straight and narrow – was jailed for six years.
Lewes Crown Court was yesterday told that the Bojangs, of Petworth Court, Bewbush, Crawley, had two children and another on the way.
But despite this Mr Bojang sold cannabis and cocaine. He was caught after police stopped his car in Mowbray Drive, Crawley, in July 2012 and discovered about 620g of very lowquality cocaine and 846g of cannabis, Philip Meredith, prosecuting, said.
In relation to this he was convicted of one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine and one of possession with intent to supply cannabis.
He was also convicted of possession of 48.8g of cannabis, which police found in a holdall in his garden after they searched his home – this was the possession count his wife was also convicted of.
He was also convicted of breaching a suspended sentence – possession with intent to supply cannabis in 2011.
George Hepburne-Scott, defending Mr Bojang, said: “This was an isolated incident with regards to the cocaine.”
Andrew Stephens, defending his wife, said: “They have loved each other but she is at a crossroads.
“Mr Bojang is going to prison.”
Judge Charles Kemp said to Mr Bojang: “Such drugs often go into the hands of young and vulnerable people with dreadful consequences.
“It’s a high-risk game. You’ve played and lost.”
Speaking to his wife, he said: “The prosecution said becoming pregnant was a deliberate and cynical attempt to generate sympathy. If it was it clearly did not work.”
He said if she offended again: “Child or no child you will go to prison.”
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