truedruid
09-10-2009, 08:36 AM
Nine bags of cannabis in teen’s room
by SAMERA KHATOON
A TEENAGER who was detained by police because he “smelled of cannabis” was kept in custody for a month facing drugs charges which were later dropped, a court has heard.
News - Bag of cannabisThe 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in Blackpool Street, Burton, after officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis when he walked past.
Burton Youth Court was told that the boy threw down a bag which was found to contain the class B drug. A search of his parents’ house produced nine further bags hidden in a shed and more in the youngster’s room, along with cash.
Alka Marston, prosecuting, said: “He said all of the vegetation recovered belonged to him and it was all for personal use. He wasn’t going to sell it; he just had it in different bags.”
The separately wrapped drugs weighed more than 17g with a street value of £200.
Police also seized 261mg of another substance, which was originally believed to be cocaine but later proved not to be the class A drug. The court was told that the substance had still not been identified.
The teenager was originally charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, which was dropped due to a lack of forensic evidence.
Another charge, of possession with intent to supply cannabis, was reduced to possession of the class B drug.
Mark Aspden, defending, said: “My client has been in custody since September 7 because of the serious nature of the matters that he was at that point facing.
“Effectively, he’s spent a whole month in custody, which is equivalent to a two-month sentence, when he shouldn’t have. He’s always admitted possession of cannabis for his own use.”
The teenager admitted possession of cannabis and was handed a six-month community rehabilitation order to run concurrently with an existing order and was ordered to pay £85 costs.
Magistrates also ordered the destruction of the drugs.
Presiding magistrate Charles Theaker said: “By way of explanation we’re making this order concurrent to give credit for your guilty plea. We’ve also taken into account the month you have spent in custody.”
by SAMERA KHATOON
A TEENAGER who was detained by police because he “smelled of cannabis” was kept in custody for a month facing drugs charges which were later dropped, a court has heard.
News - Bag of cannabisThe 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in Blackpool Street, Burton, after officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis when he walked past.
Burton Youth Court was told that the boy threw down a bag which was found to contain the class B drug. A search of his parents’ house produced nine further bags hidden in a shed and more in the youngster’s room, along with cash.
Alka Marston, prosecuting, said: “He said all of the vegetation recovered belonged to him and it was all for personal use. He wasn’t going to sell it; he just had it in different bags.”
The separately wrapped drugs weighed more than 17g with a street value of £200.
Police also seized 261mg of another substance, which was originally believed to be cocaine but later proved not to be the class A drug. The court was told that the substance had still not been identified.
The teenager was originally charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, which was dropped due to a lack of forensic evidence.
Another charge, of possession with intent to supply cannabis, was reduced to possession of the class B drug.
Mark Aspden, defending, said: “My client has been in custody since September 7 because of the serious nature of the matters that he was at that point facing.
“Effectively, he’s spent a whole month in custody, which is equivalent to a two-month sentence, when he shouldn’t have. He’s always admitted possession of cannabis for his own use.”
The teenager admitted possession of cannabis and was handed a six-month community rehabilitation order to run concurrently with an existing order and was ordered to pay £85 costs.
Magistrates also ordered the destruction of the drugs.
Presiding magistrate Charles Theaker said: “By way of explanation we’re making this order concurrent to give credit for your guilty plea. We’ve also taken into account the month you have spent in custody.”