A mum caught with cannabis worth nearly £130,000 has been slammed by a sheriff for her "shameful" behaviour.
But Natalie McCafferty was spared prison because of the "damaging" effect it would have on her three children.
Her ex-partner was jailed for 11 months for his part in the criminal enterprise.
McCafferty, 37, and Tony Jones, 39, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis at a house in Carron Street, Wishaw, on September 11, 2024.
Kevin Morrow, prosecuting, said police officers secured a search warrant for the property.
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He told Hamilton Sheriff Court: "A systematic search was carried out and £12,970 in cash was recovered from a safe in the kitchen.
The Crown said the estimated value - £129,200 - was based on what the drugs would be expected to fetch on the wholesale market.
Forensic officers found fingerprints belonging to Jones and McCafferty on the packages.
They claimed the cannabis was being stored in the garage by others. The couple had separated but Jones said he persuaded his ex-partner to rent out the garage for £500.
He insisted he didn't benefit personally.
Jailing Jones, Sheriff Kevin McCallum said he had been the "main force" in the offence, adding: "Those involved in the higher levels of the drug trade could not operate without people like you doing what you did."
The sheriff told McCafferty: "In the normal course of events you would be going to prison as this was a very significant quantity of controlled drugs.
"The fact that you have three children makes your conduct all the more reprehensible.
"You exposed yourself to prosecution and by doing this in the house in which they stayed, you put them at risk.
"That is, on one view, shameful, but I am required by law to consider what effect my disposal would have on the children.
"It's clear that if you were removed from giving them care, that could have a damaging effect.
"I am narrowly persuaded because of that exceptional factor to impose an alternative to custody."
McCafferty was ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid community work. She will be confined to her home between 7pm and 7am each day under a five-month electronic tagging order.
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