A York judge has warned that taking amphetamine can be worse than heroin because of its effect on the user's mind.

Judge Jonathan Crabtree told addict Carolyn Ann Parker, 26, to get off the Class B drug to save herself and her three-year-old child.

York Crown Court heard that she started taking amphetamine, commonly known as speed, because she was worried about her weight and is on a waiting list for treatment at a psychological clinic.

The other main Class B drug is cannabis. LSD, Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin are all Class A and attract higher prison sentences.

"Amphetamine is seriously addictive," Judge Crabtree said. "People became very strange. After long periods of time, they become paranoid. I expect this girl (Parker) is thinking the whole world is against her.

"In some ways it is as dangerous as heroin and has worse effects on some people."

Parker was bringing her child up in a "house surrounded by junkies" and unless she stopped taking the drug it would end in a "vale of tears" for her and for her daughter.

As Parker cried in the dock, he said locking her up for a year could save her life and benefit her daughter by forcing her mother to get off drugs.

But instead he deferred sentence for four months to allow Parker to go to the clinical psychological course at St Mary's Hospital, Scarborough to kick her habit.

"This cannot go on forever," he told her.

Parker, of Friargate, Scarborough, admitted supplying and possessing amphetamine and possessing five Ecstasy tablets with intent to supply.

Prosecuting, Felicity Davies said police found 13 wraps of amphetamine and five Ecstasy tablets when they raided Parker's home.

She told them the tablets belonged to a friend to whom she would return them and that she had given an amphetamine wrap to a man shortly before police arrived.

Mitigating, Mark McKone said she was not a drug dealer.

She had started taking amphetamine because she thought she had a weight problem.