A Yellowknife woman who sold crack cocaine to undercover Mounties in 2017 was sentenced to four months in jail Monday by a NWT Supreme Court judge who sympathized with the offenderSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渆xceptionalSA国际影视传媒� life circumstances SA国际影视传媒� and the SA国际影视传媒渆xtraordinarySA国际影视传媒� steps she has taken to turn her life around.

Forty-six-year-old Tracey Beatrice Woods, who hung her head and wept following Justice Andrew MaharSA国际影视传媒檚 decision, was arrested and charged two years ago following a investigation into drug trafficking in Yellowknife.

Woods, the court heard, sold undercover officers crack cocaine on three separate occasions between March 9 and March 16, 2017. Project Glacier, the drug probe that resulted in her arrest, was carried out by members of the SA国际影视传媒檚 federal investigations unit and targeted suspected dial-a-dope operations SA国际影视传媒� phone numbers that connect drug users to drugs SA国际影视传媒� in the city.

Woods obtained crack cocaine for uncover Mounties three times after officers made numerous calls to a suspected dial-a-dope phone number.

In total, Woods sold undercover officers just over one gram of crack cocaine SA国际影视传媒� collecting $100 each transaction.

Justice Mahar, asked to weigh the CrownSA国际影视传媒檚 recommendation of six to eight months against the defenceSA国际影视传媒檚 call for a suspended sentence, ultimately settled on four-months custody, the SA国际影视传媒渓owestSA国际影视传媒� sentence he said he could impose.

SA国际影视传媒淭his case is exceptional in terms of the history you bring with you and the steps youSA国际影视传媒檝e taken to overcome your past,SA国际影视传媒� said Justice Mahar.

'Low hanging fruit for ' 

WoodsSA国际影视传媒� lawyer, Tracy Bock, described his client as a SA国际影视传媒渧ulnerable participantSA国际影视传媒� in the citySA国际影视传媒檚 drug trade, pushed by poverty to engage in trafficking. The dial-a-dope number Mounties called, Bock said, actually belonged to WoodsSA国际影视传媒� former boyfriend, who was in jail at the time she committed the offences.

Crown prosecutor Duane Praught stressed Woods made a SA国际影视传媒渃onsciousSA国际影视传媒� decision to pick up the phone and profit from the calls.

But Bock called Woods, SA国际影视传媒渓ow hanging fruit for the .SA国际影视传媒�

Woods initially challenged her charges, with her lawyer arguing her arrest may have amounted to entrapment by .

The matter was set for a hearing but Woods changed her plea to guilty the day it was due to begin.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a case where thereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of hope,SA国际影视传媒� said Bock.

Bock, who detailed in depth the SA国际影视传媒渟tunningSA国际影视传媒� attempts undertaken by Woods to overturn a life ridden with abuse, addiction and poverty, said heSA国际影视传媒檚 never encountered a client who has made the same effort Woods has since her arrest.

The court heard Woods has been on her own since the age of 14. She lived on the streets and slept in stairwells. Woods endured SA国际影视传媒減hysical, emotional and mental abuseSA国际影视传媒� as a child, almost daily, and grew up in a violent home marked by substance abuse, said Bock. Her mother attended residential school. Since her 20s, through abusive and unhealthy relationships, Woods has battled addictions, namely to opioids.

Woods, the court heard, was selling cocaine in order to purchase everyday household items.

Bock said his client has been active in the community following her arrest, volunteering at a shelter while pursuing an education. Woods was backed by several community members in court, who offered letters of support.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an amazing story of survival and resilience,SA国际影视传媒� said Bock.

Mahar, who said Woods was SA国际影视传媒減oor enoughSA国际影视传媒� to fall into the temptation of the drug trade, agreed, but emphasized the need to uphold precedents set by the courts for drug trafficking.

He said the courts must send a SA国际影视传媒渃onsistent messageSA国际影视传媒� the damage caused by the drug trade wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be tolerated.

Mahar issued a judicial recommendation for WoodSA国际影视传媒檚 early release for educational and addiction treatment purposes, and called on Corrections Service to do everything it can to maintain WoodSA国际影视传媒檚 progress, as to not SA国际影视传媒渦ndoSA国际影视传媒� the hard work sheSA国际影视传媒檚 done since her arrest.

Woods must submit a sample of her DNA and his prohibited from possessing firearms. SheSA国际影视传媒檒l be on probation for two years after he release.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll I can do is wish you the best,SA国际影视传媒� said Mahar.