A grandmother who turned her small Bradford flat into a heroin 'safe house' has walked from Court with a warning from the judge.

When police raided Elaine Lewis's first floor home in Clayton, they discovered more than 400 individual wraps of heroin ready for sale, hidden in the kitchen and a pot in her hallway.

And although police prevented the haul - thought to be worth more than £4,000 - reaching the streets, Lewis admitted she had earlier passed on five or six similar consignments.

But Bradford Crown Court heard how the 48-year-old had only agreed to act as a 'custodian' following threats to her drug addict daughter who owed thousands of pounds to dealers.

Judge Stephen Gullick, the Honorary Recorder of Bradford, said he would have normally jailed Lewis for five years but showed leniency after hearing she was "nave, gullible and didn't understand the consequences of her actions".

He also conceded that jailing her could have a devastating effect on Lewis's nine-year-old grandson, the son of her drug addict daughter, Nicola. Lewis had cared for him since birth because her daughter was not fit to, the court heard.

Jayne Chaplain, prosecuting, said the youngster had been at Lewis's flat at Clervaux Court, Hunters Park Avenue, Clayton when police carried out the warrant.

She immediately showed them the drugs and later told how she had stored heroin on five or six earlier occasions. Lewis also gave officers the names of dealers involved.

Nikki Peers, mitigating, said Nicola had run up massive drug debts and began receiving threats.

"The defendant was in absolute fear over what they would do to her daughter," said Mrs Peers.

In a bid to protect her, Lewis agreed to store consignments of drugs at her flat.

"She would be telephoned, heroin would be received at her flat and it would be picked up at a later date."

Handing her a two year jail sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Gullick told Lewis: "You have clearly had enormous difficulties in your life, particularly with your younger daughter. Unfortunately she has been addicted to this wretched substance. You are well aware of the consequences of individuals taking it."

He said Lewis was formerly 'responsible and law-abiding' and accepted she faced 'enormous conflicting emotions'.

"I am sure you still had the mother's instinct to protect her daughter," he said.

"If some nasty man comes to you I appreciate it is difficult but I would suggest that you go to the police and tell them if threats are being made to you or your daughter."

He stressed he was not 'giving the green light for people to look after drugs' and added: "The trade in these drugs must be stamped out and that means that those involved in its supply or looking after it, particularly these quantities, can only expect very heavy sentences of imprisonment indeed."

Lewis walked from court in tears to be greeted by her husband and grandson.

She told the Telegraph & Argus: "I am just so relieved that this whole thing is over.

"I have just been so worried about what would happen to my grandson."

She added: "I would never get involved in anything like this ever again."