‘Previous cases will not influence my decisions’ – judge

JUDGE Beverley Lunt said her previous court dealings with other members of the Sledden family would not influence her sentencing decisions.

William Sledden appeared at Burnley Crown Court in February this year along with his other sons Daniel and Samuel Sledden where all three pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis over a five-month period.

They were all handed suspended prison sentences, however Daniel and Samuel Sledden were hauled back to court a few weeks later and jailed for two years after mocking the judge on Facebook.

Sentencing Jacob Sledden at the latest hearing, she told the court: “I would never hold it against this young man who has the misfortune to be one of the son’s of William Sledden. I look at the case entirely on it’s merits.

“You are a grown man and knew exactly what you were doing and involved with.

“Arguably when you saw your brothers and your father in court in February to be sentenced for being involved in the supply of cannabis that should have deterred you.

“But it didn’t because here we are in March when you are in possession of this cannabis.

“I take no account of their cases when I consider the proper sentence for you, other than to make that observation.”

Judge Lunt said William Sledden’s involvement with the £80,000 amphetamine haul just five weeks into his suspended sentence was a ‘serious aggravating feature’.

Sentencing, she said: “You previously mitigated on the basis that you knew your two sons were dealing from the house and yet you didn’t stop them and permitted that to carry on.

“The true position as far as your involvement of drug dealing is now far clearer thanks to the police continuing to observe your address.

“The potential value of the substantial amount of amphetamine is over £80,000. You would need a significant sum of money to purchase that in bulk.

“I’m entirely satisfied this substantial amount of drugs meant you obviously intended and expected to make a very substantial gain from dealing and this was dealing on a commercial level.”

Sentencing Nawaz, Judge Lunt said: “You had a significant role. You ran into the house and tried to delay the police’s entry so some of the drugs could be destroyed.”