A mother of six began dealing heroin to raise enough money to buy Christmas presents for her children.
Rosemary Williams, 47, a long-term heroin user from Barton, Oxford, was jailed for 27 months at Oxford Crown Court.
She pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and to supplying heroin.
John Small, prosecuting, said police found 20 heroin deals when they raided Williams's home in Fettiplace Road.
She told detectives she started dealing just three days before and made £80 profit - which she put down as a deposit on a bicycle for one of her children.
Tony McGeorge, defending, said Williams had felt under pressure to find enough cash to buy presents after her ten-year-old son handed her his Christmas list.
Judge Thomas Corrie told Williams heroin was a 'great scourge' but he accepted there were mitigating circumstances.
Story date: Friday 19 February
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article