A WOMAN led astray by two former partners was told by magistrates she did not pick the right men.

The Burnley bench said Donna Marie Barrington, 33, who had had relationships with two drug addicts, seemed to chose "very unfortunate," boyfriends.

Barrington, of Weldbank Street, Chorley, who had swallowed tinfoil when taken hold of by a police officer, was given a 12 months conditional discharge after being convicted of obstructing a constable during a drugs search and failing to surrender to custody. She must also pay £50 costs.

The justices said the defendant was addressing most of her problems and doing everything she should.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said last that January police were carrying out observations around Accrington Road, Burnley.

They received a message saying two men and a woman had just left the house of a known drug dealer and asked the trio to stop so they could be searched.

One officer got hold of Barrington and saw her put a piece of tinfoil in her mouth. He grabbed hold of her, shouted to her to spit it out but the defendant swallowed it.

Mrs Reed said Barrington was told she was being arrested and she said: "What, for eating a gobstopper?"

She continued to maintain she was eating a sweet and said when police had jumped on her back, she had swallowed it.

Alfred Rebello, defending, said Barrington had had a 16-year relationship and her partner had become a drug addict. She was introduced to drugs, the relationship came to an end and she moved away.

After custody, the defendant met another drug user, moved to Burnley with him, tried to get a methadone prescription and relapsed into heroin abuse again.

Since the offence, Barrington, who was suffering from depression, had made extremely good progress and had been providing clean samples for the community drugs team. She was living an offence-free lifestyle.