A motorist pulled over for running a red light was found to have a stash of cannabis "the size of a football" sitting on her passenger seat.
Drug dealer Mandy Kerr was pursued by police because they suspected she had driven through the red light before pulling into a medical practice car park.
When officers went to speak to her they were shocked to find she had nearly a quarter kilo of cannabis worth £2,500 sitting openly in her car.
Fiscal depute Bill Kermode told Perth Sheriff Court : "Officers had reason to follow her and saw her pull into the car park. She was the only person in the car.
"They noticed a clear wrap of herbal substance, the size of a football, sitting on the front seat. She was detained for a search. She was arrested.
"The package was field tested and found to be cannabis. There was 245.5 grams. She stated the vehicle was hers and nobody else had access to it.
"She stated she was in financial difficulty and had the drugs to make money and settle her debts. The value of the drugs is given as £2,500."
Kerr, 53, Newhouse Place, Perth, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis in the city's Kinnoull Causeway on 15 July 2020. Motoring charges against her were dropped by the Crown.
Solicitor John Paul Gallacher, defending, said: "Some of the cannabis was for her use. She was also supplying to a small group of five or six friends.
"She had been using cannabis after the break up of a 26-year relationship. When it ended two years ago she was struggling to cope."
He told the court Kerr was about to start work as a cleaner but was aware of the serious consequences of being involved in dealing drugs.
Sheriff Gillian Wade said: "It's very clear you were in possession of drugs in order to supply to others, and whether that was friends or not, does not matter."
She placed Kerr under social work supervision for a year and ordered her to complete 225 hours unpaid work in the community.
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