A former drug-addict, who failed to comply with her sentence by selling crack cocaine to an undercover police officer, walked free from court.

Julie Lawson, 39, appeared at Guildford County Court on Thursday (yesterday) after failing to comply with a 12 month supervision order imposed in October last year.

But despite being warned she would be sent to prison for breaching her order, Judge Christopher Critchlow spared her jail because of the efforts she had made to kick her addiction to drugs.

He said: "I was surprised to see you back here, you had been doing so well and generally your life had been taking a much better turn.

"I hope the very good progress you have been making returns. The help you are getting I think is in the public interest as well as your own."

The court had how Lawson failed to show up for her supervision on December 15, claiming she had not received the appointment letter because she overslept, and on February 18, because she had a relapse.

Lawson's probation officer Jan West told the court she had made "very good progress", after her original arrest for supplying class A drugs.

Lawson, of Court Lodge Road, Horley, was ordered to attend two breach catch-up sessions.