21/04/2008 00:00:00
UK: Anger over druggie's soft sentence
A DRUGGIE who grew a £10,000 cannabis farm escaped with a £150 fine - because he claimed he was smoking the stash to help kick his heroin habit.
A Euro MP today slammed the "soft" sentence which he said did nothing to "discourage other drug dealers and users".
John Arnold, 42, walked free from court, despite being nabbed with 41 plants and sophisticated growing equipment after a raid on his home.
Just a few months before, another cannabis grower got six months behind bars when he was caught growing a farm which contained just seven more plants.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Beddow said there was "a real issue that if the sentencing does not reflect the seriousness of the offence then committing such offences becomes an acceptable risk."
Conservative MEP for the North East, Martin Callanan, added: "This seems like a very lenient sentence and will do nothing to discourage other drug users or drug dealers." Source: Hartlepool Mail via CCguide news database
Source:
http://www.ccguide.org.uk/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=14479
Author:
Michelle Wilson
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