An air hostess has been jailed for drug dealing after losing her job due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Alexandra Dobre, 27, was caught with a stash of cocaine, a court was told.

The Sun reports that, Dobre had been based at Luton airport and worked for a number of airlines.

Her Instagram page shows her posing proudly next to a jet in her uniform and enjoying sightseeing trips in cities across Europe.

But the pandemic put paid to that — and a man she met on a dating app enlisted her as a courier to deliver packages of cocaine, the court heard.

She had moved to Stoke-on-Trent and police who stopped her Fiat Punto there found six wraps of the drug in her purse.

Officers then searched a nearby flat and discovered 81 snap bags of white powder in the bedroom. Prosecutor Neil Ahuja said: “It tested positive for cocaine.”

In total, 19.4g with an estimated street value of between £1,740 and £2,610 were discovered along with £480 in cash.

Dobre admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and was given 28 months.

Paul Cliff, defending, told Stoke-on-Trent crown court she moved to the UK from Romania three years ago.

He said: “She was a flight attendant for a number of years, with different airlines. She was well paid.

“She lost her job in spring this year and lost her accommodation as a result of that. She was at a loose end over what to do next.”

He claimed her boyfriend lured her into dealing by offering to store drugs in the flat in return for reduced rent.

Mr Cliff added: “Since her arrest, he has disappeared into the ether and she has not been able to contact him.