£1,300 of drug ‘all for me’

CANNABIS DEALER’S CLAIM ‘CLEARLY NONSENSE’

A DRUG dealer who had more than £1,300 worth of cannabis in the house he shared with his partner and their four children tried to convince police he was going to smoke it all himself.

Bradley Mitchell appeared for sentencing at Leicester Crown Court after being convicted of supplying class B drugs.

Recorder Sunil Khanna told him his previous claim the cannabis was all for him and that he smoked up to an ounce every day was “clearly nonsense”.

court heard that Mitchell, of Jackson Street, Coalville, had arrived home with his partner on March 6 last year when they found police about to break down their front door.

They let the officers inside and a search revealed cannabis in various places, as well as dealer bags, scales, £240 cash and a knuckleduster.

In a police interview five months later, Mitchell, who declined to have a solicitor with him, told the police he admitted possessing the cannabis, which had an estimated street value of about £1,315.

Howevcer, he denied any intention to supply it to others.

He claimed he was able to afford his huge drug habit by selling cars, doing gardening jobs and claiming benefits.

Prosecutor Sam Lowne said his claims of how much cannabis he smoked was a “vast exaggeration” and “not financially sustainable”.

He told the court: “He maintained all the cannabis was for his own personal use.

“He said the scales were to make sure he doesn’t get ripped off.”

Mitchell, 27, who now owns a jewThe ellers store in Coalville, said he used the small dealer bags to put his own cannabis in and said the cash was to pay to a friend. He refused to name the friend.

Mitchell’s mobile phone included a message sent to 11 other people which described three different brands of cannabis he had for sale.

He told the police other people used his phone sometimes but he would not name them, either.

He was found guilty of possession of class B drugs with intent to supply during a Newton hearing trial before a judge.

During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, his solicitor Tom Welshman said Mitchell had since moved out of the family home, set up the jewellery business and stopped smoking cannabis.

Mr Welshman said: “This is clearly a serious matter but this is now some time ago.

“It was out of character and I invite your honour to deal with him by a suspended sentence order.”

Recorder Khanna sentenced Mitchell to an eight-month prison term, but suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £250 court costs and do 80 hours of unpaid work.