A widow resorted to drug dealing on the Isle of Wight after her husband was killed and she "went to pieces", a court has heard.

Rachel Varley, of Kensington Avenue in Oldham, Greater Manchester, was spared jail when she appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday, February 23.

A judge decided to take a "lenient view" after agreeing the circumstances of her case were "exceptional".

Varley, 45, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and being in possession of a controlled drug. She originally denied the offences, claiming the drugs were for her own use.

Court heard how police raided an address on Alresford Road, Shanklin on two occasions.

The first, on September 6, 2021, saw officers discover a large quantity of drugs in a safe, including cocaine, valued at around £8,000, as well as crack cocaine and amphetamines.

There was also £1,000 cash on site, Tim Devlin, prosecuting, said.

Appearing on Friday, Varley also admitted two further counts of possession of a class A drug and possession of a class B drug, relating to a second search of the address on March 7, 2022.

Audrey Archer, defending, argued that the circumstances in Varley's life, at the time of the offending, were exceptional and that up to the death of her husband, she was a person of good character.

Varley's husband David McMillan was killed by a single punch in January, 2017. A man was jailed for manslaughter.

Ms Archer said following his death, Varley found herself on the Island. Being unknown to the local community, others must have taken advantage of her vulnerability, she said.

"To set up a drug supply without influence or pressure from others would be unusual."

Judge Advocate General Robert Hill said Varley's offending was "a modest street dealing type of operation" and he was satisfied that had she not lost her husband, it would not have happened.

He said: "You lost your husband in fully compelling circumstances in 2017. 

"You disintegrated after that and completely went to pieces."

He said since reaching a "low ebb", Varley appears to have done as much as anyone can to re-establish themselves.

He agreed it was an exceptional case and said it was in the public interest to take a lenient view.

Varley was handed a suspended two year prison term.

She was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and told to pay a victim surcharge.