Pair stopped by police had ‘vast amount’ of drugs stashed in car

CANNABIS WAS ALL FOR PERSONAL USE, THEY SAY

TWO men caught with a “vast” amount of cannabis and a set of scales in their car intended to use the drug themselves, a court was told.

Parminder Singh Moman and Dipesh Patel had a number of bags and plastic tubs of the class B drug when police searched them and the vehicle in a city street in January last year.

The pair, whose homes were also searched but nothing of note found, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to admit cannabis possession.

Prosecutor Neil Hollett told the court a police patrol spotted the pair in the car and detected the smell of cannabis coming from it.

Officers informed them that both they and the car were going to be searched, Mr Hollett said.

Initially, officers took a small bag of cannabis from 26-year-old Patel, who was in the passenger seat.

Next, they opened a Gucci bag which was placed in front of him in the footwell and discovered more cannabis.

After several more packages containing the drug were recovered, Moman, 23, confessed to officers that there was more under his seat.

Officers continued to search the car and found a “large amount” of cannabis in the boot as well as two grinders, which are used to prepare cannabis for smoking, Mr Hollett told the court. “In light of the amount of cannabis which was found, an investigation was launched into whether the defendants should face more serious charges than possession for personal use,” Mr Hollett said.

“It is worth pointing out this is no normal case of possession of a small amount of cannabis,” he added.

No value for the drugs was read out in court. Both men chose to appear without legal representation.

Momat, of Victoria Road North, in Northfields, Leicester, told the court he was one of the main breadwinners in his house and smoked cannabis to relieve stress.

Patel, of Fosse Road South, Westcotes, said he had smoked the drug to help with his depression.

However, he has cut down his use since he was arrested, he said.

Magistrate Simon Edwards told them: “You had a vast amount of cannabis between you in many parts of the car.”

Both men were ordered to carry out 166 hours of unpaid community work and to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £95.

An investigation was launched into whether they should face more serious charges than possession

Neil Hollett