A grandmother who was forced to sell crack cocaine and heroin by her violent boyfriend has been spared a prison sentence.

Audrey Christey was in tears as she sold the drugs to undercover police in Brighton city centre.

When officers asked her what was wrong, the 51-year-old told them they would not understand her problems.

Hove Crown Court heard yesterday the grandmother had been beaten for the past three years by her drug dealer boyfriend.

Christey, formerly of Bexhill Road, Brighton, had also been threatened by her boyfriend's supplier.

The court heard he had cut the fingers off another woman's hand in front of Christey when the woman refused to sell drugs.

Michael Warren, prosecuting, said: "Two undercover police officers approached a man known as Brixton Pete in North Laine, Brighton.

"They asked him if he could supply coffee and stones, otherwise known as heroin and crack cocaine.

"They were later approached in the Robert Street car park by Audrey Christey, who took four wraps of the drugs from a cigarette packet and gave it to them.

"The officers saw that she was crying and when they asked her what was wrong she told them they would not understand."

Tests showed she had handed over 356mg of 65 per cent pure heroin worth £40 and 482mg of 65 per cent pure crack cocaine, also worth £40.

The court heard she had a previous conviction for shoplifting but had not been in trouble for possessing or dealing drugs before.

Christey had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply at an earlier hearing.

Andrew Ramsubhang, defending, said Christey had suffered physical abuse throughout her life from men who had wanted to control her.

As a result, she had low self-esteem and feared the consequences if she refused to obey her boyfriend of seven years.

He said: "She genuinely needs help to break this vicious cycle of abuse and she is doing something about it herself.

"She has left her boyfriend and has moved to somewhere she hopes he will not find her.

"She has four grown-up children and eight grandchildren. She wants to live in Brighton so that she can continue to see them.

"However, she is prepared to move away from the area altogether."

Judge Crookenden told her supplying drugs was so serious a prison sentence would usually follow.

He said: "However, I am satisfied the mitigating circumstances in your case are exceptional."

He gave Christey a three-year community rehabilitation order under the supervision of the probation service.