A Douglas woman has admitted hiding heroin in her underwear and being involved in money laundering.

Kelly Elaine Thompson, of Demesne Road, was committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery where she will appear on October 28.

The 42-year-old has pleaded guilty to possessing heroin, possessing criminal property, namely £2,732 in cash, possessing cannabis, and obstructing police under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A fifth charge of possessing heroin with intent to supply was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court that on August 28, Thompson was driving a Peugeot 206 with Jade Neale, aged 29, of St Catherine Gardens, Birkenhead, Merseyside, as her passenger.

She was spoken to by police at the EVF garage in Victoria Road in Douglas and detained for a drug search.

Thompson had 1 gram of cannabis, worth £5.71, on her along with £1,203 in cash.

The two women were taken to police headquarters and while Thompson was being strip searched she pulled a wrap from her bra and put it in her mouth.

Police got her to spit it out and it was found to contain 0.3 grams of heroin, valued at £50.

Another wrap of the drug was found in her knickers which was weighed at 3.2 grams worth between £400 and £800.

A search of Thompson’s home address found 0.2 grams of cannabis along with scales and a tick list.

The Peugeot was also searched and cash totalling £1,529.54 was found.

When interviewed Thompson handed in a prepared statement saying that the cash had been given to her by a drug supplier who she would not name.

She said she had been asked to move it around and agreed to do so as she had a drug debt.

She said that the heroin was for her own use and she had panicked when being strip searched.

Thompson said that she did not know Neale but had been asked to transport her around the island.

Defence advocate Jerry Carter said that his client had made admissions at the police station following a bit of ’to-ing and fro-ing’.

During a previous court appearance, Neale admitted possessing criminal property, namely £440 in cash and was fined and banned from the island for five years.

The court heard that the case has to go the higher court as a confiscation order for the cash can only be made at the Court of General Gaol Delivery.

Magistrates ruled that, but for the confiscation order, they would have sentenced Thompson in the summary court.

Bail continues.