This is about a month old, but only now i found it.
A TEACHER found with hundreds of pounds worth of cocaine in the glove compartment of her car took the drug when she needed a "pick-me-up", a court has heard.
Police also found amphetamines in Katherine Thomas's house, along with a cannabis plant.
Thomas, from Glanyrafon Road, Pontarddulais, is currently suspended from her job as an art teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, in the Swansea Valley.
Thirty-eight-year-old Thomas appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to three charges — possessing 2.54g of cocaine, possessing 35.8g of amphetamines, and having a cannabis plant.
Magistrates heard that Thomas was arrested after police executed a search warrant on her partner's shop, Hydroponics Wales, on St Teilo Street in Pontarddulais.
The teacher's car was parked outside the store, and when officers searched it they found the cocaine — worth around £300 — in the glove compartment. Police then went to her house where they found some £350 worth of amphetamines, and a "small" cannabis plant.
Richie Garner, in mitigation, said his client was a woman of previously clean character whose life had "slowly spiralled out of control".
He said Thomas had gone through a traumatic break-up and then become involved in a "dysfunctional" relationship.
She had first tried cocaine several years ago but that recently her use had become more regular, that she had battled with her weight, and that she would take coke as a "pick-me-up".
"She was heading towards what she described as a break down," he said.
"Her life has slowly spiralled out of control and she responded in the wrong way.
"She is remorseful but very accepting of her fate, she knows she is responsible for the cycle she is in.
"She has lost her job — a responsible job she enjoyed — and she knows it is very unlikely she will be able to get another job given this conviction."
He said that without teaching his client would be unable to pay the mortgage, and would have to sell her house.
The Probation Service told the court Thomas had a "degree of dependency" involving drugs and alcohol, though Thomas herself did not agree with their view.
Magistrates sentenced Thomas to an 18-month community order with a supervision requirement, and ordered her to pay £85 costs.
Magistrates also issued a destruction order for the drugs.
Speaking after sentencing, Neath Port Talbot Council's education director Karl Napieralla said: "The teacher has been suspended from her post pending a full investigation and the General Teaching Council for Wales has been informed.
"We will not tolerate behaviour of this nature in any circumstances especially from people in positions of trust and influence over young people.
"I want to reassure parents and the wider community that we will always take appropriate action in such circumstances."
jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk
http://www.thCIAsouthwales.co.uk/Teacher-used-cocaine-following-break-trauma/story-12905285-detail/story.html
Holy stuff.
She was a very nice teacher, everyone in the class liked her and she helped a lot with the work, i never knew she was up to stuff like this :c
Her replacement was a bitch.
