A 46-year-old mother was jailed for seven years for a failed cocaine importation scheme after a last-minute attempt at changing her plea failed yesterday.

Glennamur Pauline Russell's daughter stormed out of the Supreme Court after her mother was sentenced for conspiring to import 300 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $77,250.

As Russell was being led out of the courtroom the teen rushed out in tears, slamming the door behind her ? moments later cries could be heard in the hallway.

Earlier in the sentencing Crown counsel Juan Wolffe suggested that Russell used her 16-year-old daughter ? who was 14 at the time ? to help with a drug transaction involving an unnamed cruise ship member.

Mr. Wolffe described Russell as "the brain" of the operation and suggested a six to eight year prison term, saying she was caught in an "exchange" with a crew member on a surveillance camera on July 29, 2003.

Since her arrest, Russell has changed her plea twice and tried again recently but was forced to maintain a guilty plea.

Mr. Wolffe said that Russell has shown no regret or remorse and has tried to place blame on others. The court also heard that Russell claimed Police assaulted her while in their custody.

In his submissions to Chief Justice Richard Ground, Mr. Wolffe said that no consideration should be given to the fact that Russell has a young daughter.

Defence lawyer Victoria Pearman told the court that Russell's daughter does part time work at Harbour Nights on Front Street and that Russell attempted to do the drug deal in the same area her daughter was working.

While Russell has been on remand for the past year, her daughter has been admitted to Brangman Home by Social Services and has been going through a very difficult time. Ms Pearman described her client as "heartbroken" is at the home for wayward girls.

Russell is missing a number of teeth and alleges that she lost them when Police assaulted her, the court heard.

Ms Pearman said that no where in the record does it say that the defendant was the controller of the attempted drug smuggle.

She added that Russell admitted a role in collection of the drugs from the cruise ship in exchange for money.

Ms Pearman suggested that the defendant receive no more than four years imprisonment.

Mr. Justice Ground said that he was sentencing her on the basis that she was a participant and not a ring leader.

He added that a long and expensive trial has been avoided by her guilty plea and that if she had gone to trial and was convicted she would be looking at a ten to 12 year sentence.

Mr. Justice Ground sentenced Russell to seven years in prison with time spent taken into account.