£1k cannabis haul found at user’s home

A MAN who started smoking cannabis at the age of 12 has been spared jail after police found nearly £1,000 worth of the drug at his home.

Luke Hilberg, 23, admitted possessing the Class B drug with intent to supply and was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday.

Recorder Mark Powell QC told the defendant: “This is a serious offence.”

The court heard police used a search warrant at his home in Barry on October 19 last year.

Ian Colvin, prosecuting, said officers found a total of 75.8g of cannabis with a potential street value of £950 plus digital scales and a mobile phone containing messages relating to drug supply.

Prosecutors said he was supplying on a local level for financial motivation.

Hilberg, from Gadlys Road in Barry, admitted possessing intent to supply.

The court heard he had a reprimand for the same offence in 2010 and a conviction for possession in 2015.

He entered his guilty plea on the basis he used cannabis himself and supplied to a group of friends.

Stephen Donoghue, defending, emphasised his client pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He told the court Hilberg started smoking cannabis at the age of 12 after being the victim of a violent offence.

Recorder Powell told the defendant: “Obviously this is a serious offence.” But he added: “It is not in the public interest to send you to prison today.”

Hilberg was handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, plus a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 30 days rehabilitation and 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £140 victim surcharge. cannabis with