19/04/2007 16:00:00
UK: Cannabis dealer avoids jail term
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A DRUG-DEALER who fled the country after being caught with more than a
kilogram of cannabis has been given a suspended sentence.
Jack Pearce, 26, of Chapel Road, Heytesbury, sold the drugs to fund his
own heroin and crack cocaine addictions but a judge sitting at Swindon
Crown Court decided not to jail him at a hearing yesterday.
After hearing how Pearce went on the run in France for three months
while awaiting sentence Judge John McNaught imposed a 36-week sentence
suspended for two years.
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Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said Pearce's van was stopped by police on the
A350 at 11.30pm on April 13 last year as they were concerned about the
way it was being driven.
When one of the officers went to the front window he could smell
cannabis so conducted a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In the vehicle they found more than a kilogram of cannabis, about 100
milligrams of heroin, more than six grams of cocaine and a small amount
of cannabis leaf.
They also recovered £5,677 in cash.
Mr Meeke said when he was questioned Pearce admitted he had heroin and
crack cocaine addictions for some time.
He told police he had become addicted to heroin when he was just 16
years old and crack cocaine just three or four years ago.
The court was told he had previous convictions for drugs matters
including possessing cannabis with intent to supply from 1999.
He admitted charges of offering to supply cannabis between January 1 and
April 14 last year and possessing heroin, cocaine and cannabis on April 13.
Tim Hills, defending, said: "This case is an example of what can be led
into by starting experimenting with cannabis. It got worse and worse and
worse.
"He was a young man trying to keep a job; he is a qualified electrician,
with a drug addiction to crack cocaine."
He said that after fleeing to France to get clean of drugs last year
after admitting what he had done, he was arrested in mid March on his
return.
Since then he had been in custody at HMP Horfield Prison in Bristol and
managed to stay off drugs while inside.
He said that on his release his father William Pearce was prepared to
offer him a home at Pickle Farm, Deverill Road, in Sutton Veny.
Mr Hills said his client, a self-employed electrician, also had an offer
of work should he be released.
Passing sentence the judge told Pearce: "We in the courts hate people
who get involved in drugs because we see it every day and the misery it
causes and wrecks their lives and drives them to crime."
In addition to the suspended sentence, Pearce was placed on supervision
for 18 months, a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months and will
have to complete a substance related offending programme.
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/display.var.1344124.0.cannabis_dealer_avoids_jail_term.php
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12466
Author:
Wiltshire Times via UKCIA
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