Worshipper Maureen Whitter spared jail for drugs offences

A REGULAR church worshipper and community activist has been spared jail after being caught up in a drugs operation.
The 53-year-old granny, disabled Maureen Whitter, was near to tears as she left the dock at the Old Bailey.
Convicted at an earlier hearing of “minding” the proceeds of drugs sales, Mrs Whitter, of Whitmore Road, Islington, was freed with a 50-week sentence suspended for two years.
Judge Martyn Zeidman also ordered her to keep to a home curfew for six months after telling her: “You behaved appallingly in joining this criminal enterprise.”
He added: “You took charge of dirty drugs money.”
A neighbour of Mrs Whitter, Receia Taylor, 21, of Archer House, Whitmore Estate, was jailed for five years for his role.
He was described as “a small scale dealer” in heroin and cocaine sales “and not a merchant”.
Taylor, with a previous conviction for drugs possession, was told by Judge Zeidman: “Drugs cause huge misery to the vulnerable people in our society. Yours was a business activity and dealers must receive severe punishment.”
Mrs Whitter, training to be a psychotherapist, had £5,400 cash found by police confiscated.
DAVID ST GEORGE