Britain's youngest mother grew cannabis because she couldn't afford alcohol

A woman once dubbed "Britain's youngest mum" has been caught growing drugs in her home. Amy Crowhurst, 19, was named the country's youngest mother when she fell pregnant at the age of 12.

Now, the single parent, of Curteys Walk, Bewbush, has admitted producing and taking the class B drug cannabis in the home she shares with her two young children.

On Tuesday the mother-of-two, now 19, appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to three separate charges of producing and possessing the class B substance cannabis. Crowhurst told the court she only took the drug because she couldn't afford to pay for alcohol and used it as a way to de-stress and cope with everyday life.



Mitigating, Geoff White said: "She's a single parent and she can't afford alcohol. She turned to a cheaper alternative. She then attempted to grow some and it worked."

The court was told Crowhurst had already received a caution for drug offences in 2008. Head magistrate John Mansfield told the teenager: "I understand you are a single parent but one of the aggravating features is that you have already received a caution for this type of offence."

Crowhurst was sentenced to a community order for nine months, ordered to pay £40 costs, and told to go on a drug rehabilitation course.