A WOMAN who dealt Class A drugs to her friends after getting into financial difficulties has been ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community.

Pamela Butler, 34, agreed to sell quantities of cocaine to people she knew from an address at Lochend Road South in Musselburgh in May 2022 after having cash flow problems.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Butler had been using the drug while holding social gatherings at her home and was “persuaded” to start selling the drug.

Butler, of Middleshot Square, Prestonpans, was caught supplying the drug to others on May 16, 2022, and pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared in the dock at the city court last month.

She was back at court for sentencing on Monday, where Sheriff Stewart placed her on a community payback order with an unpaid work element of 220 hours.

A confiscation hearing into the matter will also be held next month.