A HUSBAND and wife team who ran a “drugs factory” from their Ipswich home have avoided jail after being handed suspended sentences.John and Shirley Decater were arrested after police busted their Downside Close home on June 27 this year and found a block of amphetamine in their fridge.

A HUSBAND and wife team who ran a “drugs factory” from their Ipswich home have avoided jail after being handed suspended sentences.

John and Shirley Decater were arrested after police busted their Downside Close home on June 27 this year and found a block of amphetamine in their fridge.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that the Decaters took to dealing drugs to fund their own amphetamine habits and also raise money to spruce up their flat.

Shirley Decater, 31, and John Decater, 39, both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a quantity of amphetamine, a controlled class B drug, on or between May 1 and June 27 this year at an earlier court hearing.

They both also admitted a charge of being in possession of 219.4 grams of amphetamine with intent to supply on June 27.

John Decater also confessed to a further charge of having a prepared needle of amphetamine which upgrades the drug's classification to class A.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, said Mrs Decater directed police to the fridge when they raided her home.

He said the amphetamine had been tested and was found to be between six and seven per cent purity.

Neil Macaulay, mitigating on behalf of Mrs Decater, said his client was “not a sophisticated woman” and the enterprise was not lucrative.

He said: “She didn't want to get involved but felt under pressure from Mr Decater to get involved.

“She rarely leaves the house and wouldn't have been involved in the procurement or sale of the drugs.”

Mr Macauley added that Mrs Decater became depressed and resorted to self-harm after her children were taken into care a number of years ago and she turned to drugs in an attempt to cope.

Kelly Richard, mitigating on behalf of Mr Decater, said his client had been abusing amphetamines intravenously for years after suffering problems at a young age.

He said: “He has indicated he would like to get rid of the habit.”

Recorder Gerard Pounder said police found an “unsophisticated little drugs factory” when they raided the couple's home.

He sentenced Mrs Decater to three months in jail suspended for 12 months and ordered her to complete a 12-month supervision order.

He sentenced John Decater to a total of nine months in jail for three offences, suspended for two years, and imposed a 12-month drug treatment and testing order.

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