Teenage cannabis dealer given suspended jail term
A TEENAGER set himself up as a cannabis dealer because he wanted to make sure his parents had a good Christmas, a court has heard.
However, Jack Waring, then 19, had sold only a fraction of the cannabis he had bought to launch his enterprise when police raided his home in Castle Donington, days before the festivities.
Waring, now 20, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to admit a single charge of possession with intent to supply the class B drug.
His solicitor told the court: “Mr Waring felt under selfimposed pressure to do something special so his family could have a better Christmas than was forecast, so he came up with the stupid idea of selling a bit of weed.”
Prosecutor Sukhdev Bisla said police executed a search warrant at the family home in Cedar Road on December 16
“Various exhibits were seized from the defendant’s bedroom, including £115 in cash, digital pocket scales, three bags of green vegetable matter, weighing scales and a number of dealer’s bags,” Mr Bisla said.
“A drug expert analysed the green matter and confirmed it was cannabis. It was 49.5g of cannabis with an estimated street value of £610.
“Clearly there was financial gain and cases like this are borderline whether they should go to the crown court.”
Richard Jennings, defending, said: “At the time of this offence Mr Waring was 19 and had caring responsibilities for his mother.
“He is now 20 and is supported today by his father.
“His father worked long hours and spent a lot of time away from home in order to keep the family afloat.”
Waring bought 50g of cannabis and had sold only a small number of deals when police raided his home, Mr Jennings said.
“He bought in bulk and that is what was seized from him when the police came to his home,” he said.
“It was a business venture which was in its infancy, a business set up through naivety and foolishness.
“It was very much his own operation but there was very little financial gain.
“Due to a foolish act he finds himself here today.”
Waring’s ex-partner is expecting their child and they are hoping to patch up their relationship for the sake of the child, Mr Jennings said.
He added: “He is very keen to be part of that child’s life.”
Magistrates sentenced Waring to 26 weeks in custody, but suspended the sentence for 12 months.
Magistrate Samantha PriceJones told him: “The reason we are suspending the sentence is we believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for you.”
Waring was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work and told to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £128.
The magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis and confiscation of the £115 cash.