A JUDGE told a Southampton woman she had been exploited after falling into dangerous company as he spared her an immediate prison sentence.

Judge Peter Ralls QC heard how Charlie-May Fernandez, 22, had been paid £5,000 to cover her rent to look after about two dozen cannabis plants in a tent at a house in Woolston, Southampton.

Prosecutor Christopher Wing said the estimated yield would have provided a crop worth about £6,600 on the street.

When questioned she told detectives she was sorry for allowing her premises to be used.

Fernandez, of Millais Road, Southampton, admitted cultivating cannabis and money laundering.

Passing a 16-month suspended sentence with six months supervision and an order to do 100 hours unpaid community work, the judge told Fernandez that in forming a relationship with a man, she had fallen into dangerous company and had been used. “You were naive and closed your eyes to what you were involved in.”

In mitigation, Andy Houston said she had played a limited part and had no influence above those in the chain.

Fernandez was said to be of previous good character.