Former prison officer with 'bounty on her head' after taking over partner's drug-dealing empire spared jail

 A former prison officer who took over her partner's drug-dealing "business" when he was sent back to prison has been spared jail. Emma Leeman, 27, took over her boyfriends illegal drug empire when he returned to drug dealing out of "desperation" because he was in debt, a court heard. Her partner Christopher Sirrs, 44, was caught by police and sent back to prison on recall, the Hull Daily Mail reports.
Leeman, a former legal executive in Hull with a criminology degree, had also been told there was a "bounty on her head" as a former prison officer if she was jailed.

She wept with relief in the dock of Hull crown Court on hearing her prison sentence would be suspended.

She said through her barrister she had been "stupid" and "manipulated" in her relationship with Sirrs, which she said was now over. Sirrs, who had a previous conviction for drug-dealing, was jailed for two years.

Richard Woolfall, prosecuting, said police found drugs worth more than £2,500 when they raided the couple's east Hull home on October 26 last year. 

A "significant" amount of amphetamine was in the freezer and other parts of the house, and cocaine was found in a BMW car parked outside. Leeman told Humberside Police the car belonged to a "friend" she refused to name.

There was a total of 202 grams of amphetamine, with a purity of between four and 14% and a street value of £2,400, and three grams of cocaine, with a purity of 49%, worth £175. Police also recovered £580, mobile phones a "dealer list" of names and amounts owed.

Leeman admitted possession of cocaine and amphetamine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, the cash. Sirrs admitted possession of amphetamine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.

Not guilty verdicts were entered on a further charge faced by both defendants of keeping a brothel after prosecutors offered no evidence.

Mr Woolfall said police intercepted phone calls between the couple after Sirrs was recalled to prison, and these showed "Miss Leeman was being guided in what she was doing by Mr Sirrs".

She pleaded guilty on a basis that she only knew or suspected £300 to £400 of the money found was from crime. She had, however, kept a record of the "monies taken and expenditure" of the business for Sirrs.

Victoria Smith-Swain, for Leeman, said just before she committed the offences, she was the "victim of a shooting at her home address as a result of a long-standing dispute between the perpetrator and Mr Sirrs". Her mental health had deteriorated and she started taking drugs to "numb the pain".
It is clear Miss Leeman performed a limited function under the direction of a prolific offender for a very short period of time for no financial gain for herself," Miss Smith-Swain said.

Dale Brook, for Sirrs, said he had tried to make "positive changes" on release from prison in June 2016, but got into debt.

Referring to the shooting, he said: "They were both victims of a serious criminal offence which is still being investigated, and he found himself in a situation where he was in significant debt, his partner had been put in significant danger, and he wanted to do what he could to try and change the situation.

"What they needed to do was to move out of the area, and in those difficult circumstances with debt he reverted to his old ways."

Recorder Tahir Khan QC said he accepted Sirrs was acting out of desperation to try to raise money at the time.

Leeman received a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to do 140 hours of unpaid work and have up to 20 days rehabilitation