AN IPSWICH drug addict is likely to be spared a jail term next month after promising to clean up her act.Carole Linton, of London Road, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court after she assaulted a police officer and was twice caught her in possession of cocaine.

AN IPSWICH drug addict is likely to be spared a jail term next month after promising to clean up her act.

Carole Linton, of London Road, appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court after she assaulted a police officer and was twice caught her in possession of cocaine.

Magistrates told the 43-year-old they were unlikely to send her to prison if she agreed to take part in a drugs rehabilitation therapy programme.

Margaret Cutts, prosecuting, said drugs were found on Linton on June 12 when police stopped her for driving suspiciously.

She was taken to a police station where she kicked a female officer, causing a nine-inch bruise to her thigh and bruising on her arm.

She was also found in possession of 2.5g of the class A drug - plus scales, pipes, plastic bags and other drug taking equipment - at her home on July 6. Linton pleaded guilty to all three offences.

Kate Miller, mitigating for Linton, said: “It's blindingly obvious this woman has a problem with drugs and it's a problem imprisoning her has not helped.

“She accepts she needs to get out of this spiral.”

Linton is due to be sentenced on October 20. Magistrates said they believed she wanted to quit drugs and would help her on the right path.

During her appearance in court, magistrates also punished her for driving without insurance, driving without a test certificate and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence on May 10.

She was disqualified for 12 months but the ban will run at same time as a current ban. She was also fined £50.

N What do you think should be done to deal with the menace of drugs? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk