Katrina Gillespie, of Braeside Drive, had pleaded guilty to supplying the drug from a property on McGregor Walk, Alexandria, on two occasions in January this year.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard last week the 40-year-old was caught following a surveillance operation mounted by police.

Malcolm McLeod, prosecuting, told the court: “On January 8 plain clothes police officers saw a person go into a property at McGregor Court.

“After coming out the person was searched and as a result of the investigation, 0.1 grams of diamorphine were recovered.

“Police continued observing and in relation to the second incident on January 20, another person was seen to get out of a vehicle and went into a common close. When police carried out a search of that person, they found 0.6 grams of diamorphine.” The court heard that police carried out a search of the property on February 12 but nothing in relation to drugs was found on that occasion.

When interviewed by police, Gillespie explained she had a £30-a-day heroin habit.

Defending, Bert Thomson told the court Gillespie had been clean of drugs for a period of around 32 months following her release from custody in April 2011, but had experienced a number of personal blows in the meantime and had relapsed into drug problems.

Sentencing Gillespie to 16 months in jail, Sheriff Simon Fraser said: “You are very lucky that the Crown has decided to proceed in a sheriff court.

“Had this been in a high court, you would serve a minimum of seven years in prison.

“You have served a total of five years for dealing class A drugs so you are not a small-time player.”