Wellington - A young English woman's birthday present sent her to jail and ruined her plans to start a new life in New Zealand, a newspaper reported on Friday.

"You asked a friend in Britain to send some cocaine to you for your birthday," a judge told Lynsey Claire Reader, 26, in the Christchurch High Court.

"I doubt it takes me to remind you how foolish that was."

He sent Reader, from Croydon, South London, to prison for three months after she pleaded guilty to importing two envelopes of the drug.

The court was told Reader and her partner arrived in New Zealand in January on two-year work visas and planned to seek permanent residence, The Press newspaper reported.
Continues Below ↓