Wheelchair user spared prison in £1,000 heroin bust

A 67-year-old wheelchair user narrowly escaped prison after being caught at the centre of a major heroin dealing operation. Elizabeth Balaam was apprehended in September 2022 in Thetford, Norfolk, while weighing and packaging heroin.

Officers discovered two containers of brown powder and a pre-packed bag containing approximately 20 grams of heroin on a coffee table. The street value of the heroin was estimated at over £1,000.

With a criminal history spanning 28 convictions for 74 offences, including crack cocaine sales, Balaam initially denied charges of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. However, she changed her plea to guilty a month before her trial.

Judge David Pugh, at Norwich Crown Court, suspended a two-year sentence for 24 months on Tuesday, recognising Balaam’s vulnerability and the exploitation she faced. He acknowledged that her limited financial gain primarily funded her addiction.

Prosecutor Oliver Haswell revealed that Balaam dealt drugs worth hundreds of pounds at a time, not just small quantities.

The court learned that Balaam’s addiction began during her marriage to her ex-husband. In recent years, she started buying heroin in bulk and distributing it to other addicts.

Her illegal activities were uncovered through a police surveillance operation that tracked numerous known addicts frequenting her residence. One woman leaving Balaam’s home was found with diamorphine, commonly known as street heroin.

John Morgans, defending, stated that Balaam is now receiving help and treatment for her addiction. He emphasised her poor health and fear of imprisonment, noting her reliance on oxygen 24 hours a day.