TWO addicts who were caught dealing heroin in Kilwinning have been locked up.

Theresa Cunningham, 47, and Joanne McNeil, 31, admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug on August 13, 2015.

The pair were found with three quantities of heroin at an address in Oxenward Road on August 13, 2015.

Additionally, McNeil admitted a charge of lying to police at Asda in Ardrossan that she was in fact Theresa Cunningham.

Both Cunningham and McNeil previously pleaded guilty to the charge at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

They returned to court last week to face sentencing from presiding Sheriff Alistair Watson.

Mr Currie, representing Cunningham, a prisoner of Cornton Vale, said the two larger quantities of heroin recovered by police in a safe belonged to his client.

He said that Cunningham has had serious difficulties with drug and alcohol addiction and undertook a detox in prison.

Mr Currie insisted that that she faced pressure to supply heroin to feed her own addiction.

He said: “She was immersed in this scene because of her

significant misuse of the drug and she felt she was under certain pressures.

“She is not passing the buck, she speaks slightly of relief which allows her to move on from that situation in due course.

“She said she will move away from her address as part of that process and hopes this will be an opportunity to rid herself of these difficulties.”

Defending McNeil, of Oxenward Road, James Irvine said his client took a “realistic view” of the situation.

Mr Irvine said that McNeil asked him not to make a “fanciful suggestion” to the court about avoiding a period in custody.

When passing sentence, Sheriff Watson said: “Standing your records the amount of drugs involved her and the circumstances there’s no other alternative but to impose substantial sentences.”

Addressing Cunningham, he added: “Your situation is made worse that by the fact you have a recent drug trafficking conviction but I can well imagine there were pressures brought to bear.”

Cunningham and McNeil were sentenced to 24 months and 26 months in prison respectively.