A TETBURY woman who failed to turn up at Gloucester Crown Court to face drugs charges in May has been remanded in custody today after being arrested on warrant.

The warrant had been issued for Sallie-Ann Lane at Gloucester Crown Court on May 24.

She was arrested today and taken immediately before the court.

Prosecutor Emily Heggadon said that Lane, 31, from Tetbury had originally been arrested for allegedly trying to sell class A drugs on two occasions in April this year. Over £1,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin was said to have been found on the back seat of her car.

Joe Maloney, defending, told the court today: “She has been quite ill for some time and she suffers from a number of health problems including epilepsy.

“Lane is beginning to turn her life around and is slowing kicking her heroin habit. In April she weighed six stone and since she starting taking other medication to wean her off drugs, she is now nine and-a-half stone - and is now pregnant.

“Lane is in a stable relationship and is now fully engaged to get her life back on track.”

Judge Michael Cullum said to Lane: “You have put your head in the sand for a long time. I am told you are now in a better medical condition than before.

“However, I am not satisfied that you will attend court voluntarily. I am remanding you in custody when you will be tried by a jury on October 14.

"I am not prepared to allow you to have conditional bail for fear of you failing to surrender to the court on that date.”