A woman faces a long prison sentence for supplying heroin and crack cocaine to a child.

Emma Kelly, 31, admitted three charges of supplying Class A drugs to the boy when he was aged between nine and 11.

Judge Richard Hayward told Kelly: "Supplying Class A drugs to a young child is about as bad as it gets.

"You can be sure you will be facing a substantial prison sentence."

Kelly, who lives in Eastbourne but has no permanent address, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of child cruelty, Hove Crown Court heard.

The petite blonde wore a black vest-style top as she stood in the dock as the charges were read to her by the court clerk yesterday.

She admitted supplying heroin to a nine-year-old boy between August 17, 2002, and August 16, 2003.

Kelly also admitted supplying crack cocaine to the child between August 2003 and August 2004, when he was ten.

She pleaded guilty to a third charge of supplying heroin to the boy on May 5, last year, when he was 11.

Tayo Adebeyo, prosecuting, said they were specimen charges which reflected the nature and seriousness of the offences.

He asked for six further charges of supplying drugs to the boy not to be proceeded with but to remain on file.

Kelly had earlier denied all the charges but changed her plea to guilty to the three specimen charges of supplying Class A drugs to the child yesterday.

She had pleaded guilty to two counts of child cruelty at an earlier hearing.

Mr Adebeyo said Kelly's guilty pleas had spared the boy the ordeal of having to give evidence in a trial.

Alissa Scott-Beckett, def-ending, asked the court to adjourn the hearing for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

She said there were "substantial mitigating circumstances" which needed to be investigated.

Kelly was remanded in custody until August 16.