Deaths led to drug offences after pair met through bereavement services

Jennifer Campbell (52) was sent to prison for 42 months, while co-accused Gary Mycock (43) was given a suspended sentence due to his lesser role in the operation as Campbell’s driver.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Campbell had begun selling drugs to pay off a drug debt run up by her late son before his death, while Mycock had turned to drugs after his wife died.

The court heard police had raided Campbell’s home in Chapel Street, Hoyland, in May last year and found a “significant amount” of crack cocaine and cocaine in the kitchen area and cash in a bedroom.

Mr Andrew Petterson, prosecuting, said: “The defendant confirmed she lived alone and no-one else had access to the house, but offered no explanation for what had been found.”

In December, police had “observed a drug deal” between a pedestrian and the occupants of a car in Hoyland, Mr Petterson said.

Mycock was found to be the driver and Campbell the passenger, and officers found “a significant quantity” of crack cocaine and cash.

Recorder Mark Cooper said Campbell had not been “supplying drugs on a commercial scale” but had not been “coerced”.

Noting Campbell’s 24 previous convictions, mostly related to shoplifting with no previous drug-related convictions, he added: “It has taken 14 months to get to this point and you are not responsible for that delay.

“You were trying to pay off a debt owed by your son following his untimely death but only a custodial sentence can be justified.”

Campbell was sentenced to 42 months for each of three offences of possession of a class A drug with intention to supply, with all the sentences to run concurrently.

There was no separate penalty for possession of criminal property.

Turning to Mycock, of Haugh Road, Rawmarsh, the judge said he had played a lesser role and was performing a “limited function of driving Campbell around while she was dealing drugs”.

Mycock, who had 11 previous convictions for 17 offences, had “begun using drugs following the death of his wife in 2020 and met Campbell through bereavement services”, said the judge.

He added: “The pre-sentence report is encouraging, saying you have lower risk of reoffending and of causing harm to others.”

Mycock was sentenced to 20 months in prison but the judge said he was prepared to suspend the sentence.

He said: “This offence was caused by your relapse into drug addiction following a very traumatic time in your life.

“Immediate custody would lead to the loss of your home and I cannot see what good it would do.”

Mycock, who admitted being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug, was also ordered to take part in a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.