Man, 43, fined £400 after cocaine discovered in his hotel room
AMAN was Tasered by police after cocaine was found in a hotel room. Lee Mahon, 43, of Humber Road, Cheltenham, admitted possession of cocaine but the prosecution decided not to charge him with having the drug with intent to supply even though almost £2,000 worth of cocaine was found at his home.
Prosecutor George Threlfall told Gloucester Crown Court that the 19.7 grams found at Mahon’s address was of high purity - 89 per cent - and was significantly more than anyone would normally be expected to have in their possession for their own use, he said.
But the decision had been taken not to charge him with supply “because there were a number of shortcomings along with disclosure issues,” he said.
“There was no DNA found on the wraps, there was no evidence of drug dealing on Mahon’s phone and there were other people living at the address.”
Police were called to the Citrus Hotel on Monday December 3, 2018 after Mahon and his girlfriend booked into a room at the Wellington Street establishment. The couple’s behaviour was brought to the attention of the hotel’s management and the manager used the masterkey to gain access to the room when they had gone out and discovered drug paraphernalia items scattered around.
“The police were informed and Mahon was arrested the next morning. He put up a struggle and had to be Tasered to get him to calm down during a struggle. The police then went to Mahon’s home address in Humber Road. In his bedroom police discovered a cushion with 19.7grammes of cocaine hidden inside it.”
Mahon pleaded guilty to possession of a quantity of cocaine, a class A drug on December 4, 2018.
Matthew Harbinson, defending said: “Following Mahon’s arrest for this offence he was recalled to prison. The issues behind his offending have already been addressed.
“The rehabilitative issue has therefore been and gone because of the time since his arrest and this will prove to be a difficult sentencing exercise as he has been clear of drugs for some significant time now.”
Recorder James Waddington QC fined Mahon £400 and ordered for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.