A Dover mother jailed for restraining her daughter to stop her buying drugs is expected to have her appeal against sentence heard at the High Court tomorrow.

Julia Saker, 44, from Temple Ewell, was sent to prison for 12 months at Canterbury Crown Court in January, after admitting false imprisonment of her daughter Tabitha.

Tabitha’s ex-boyfriend, Christopher Francklin, 22, also admitted the offence and was jailed for 18 months.

The court heard how the couple tried to stop Tabitha from climbing out of a window at the family home to do a deal with a drug dealer outside. She was bundled to the floor, tied up with tape and had a sock pushed into her mouth.

But Tabitha had already dialled 999 and the whole incident was heard by the operator and the police. Officers attended and arrested the couple.

The jailing of Mrs Saker caused a nationwide outcry, and Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said he would be seeking a review.

“Drugs are a real evil of our times,” he said. “Many people tell me any parent would do all they could in such a case. It seems clear that Julia’s motive was to help her daughter. In view of this, many feel that the sentence is too harsh.”

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