A woman who started dealing cocaine and ketamine after getting in a 'very bad place' has narrowly avoided jail.
Natalie Schmitz, 35, was found with more than £2,000 worth of drugs and £3,335 in cash at her house in Withington.
When officers with a warrant went to her home, Schmitz told them she 'couldn't believe she had been so stupid'.
A judge spared her from jail after saying he was 'impressed' with testimonials submitted on her behalf, and accepting she had worked to turn her life around.
Schmitz, who previously worked in the events industry, including at festivals and music concerts, started dealing after becoming addicted to drugs and getting into debt with her dealer, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Prosecutors told how officers went to her home on December 19, 2018, where they found quantities of cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis.
Police valued the drugs as being worth between £2,148 and £2,838 in total.
As officers searched the property, Schmitz told them she 'couldn't believe she had been so stupid', prosecutor Gavin Howie said.
They also found electric scales and a debtors list.
"This was no supply of a small amount of drugs to one individual," said the judge, Recorder Michael Maher.
"This was an active business, with evidence of basic book keeping and a debtors list was found.
"This was a cash rich cottage industry, of modest proportions.
"You were plainly a very trusted individual, to deal with significant quantities of cash and reasonable quantities of class A and class B drugs."
The judge said those who deal in drugs 'peddle misery', and that drugs 'destroy lives and communities'.
Schmitz later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and ketamine, and possession of ecstasy and cannabis.
She also admitted possessing criminal property, the £3,335 in cash.
She said she had been dealing for six weeks.
At her sentencing hearing, Schmitz's barrister Michael Johnson appealed for her to be spared jail.
"At the time she was in a very bad place emotionally," Mr Johnson said.
She had come out of a long term relationship and was having financial problems, he said.
Schmitz used drugs to 'help her get through her days', Mr Johnson told the court.
He said: "How she wishes she had the fortitude and foresight, because it is a decision she made which has led to two-and-a-half years of turmoil, and has almost ruined her life."
She has since taken positive steps to turn her life around, and has found new employment, working in customer support for a cosmetics company, the court heard.
Mr Johnson said: "She didn't wallow, waiting for the outcome of the police enquiry, she did something positive to address the issues."
She is 'highly thought of' by her employers and has also enrolled on a degree in global business management.
"She is not a bad person," Mr Johnson said, adding that her offending had arisen 'out of a particularly dark time in her life, which is now many years behind her'.
He appealed for her progress not to be 'stalled' by sending her to jail.
The judge said Schmitz, of Kingslea Road, has shown 'drive and determination' to change, noting she has a stable job and 'good prospects'.
She received an 18 month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
She must observe a curfew for three months, from 10pm to 6am, and complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
