Mercy for Crediton hip injury man who turned to cannabis for pain relief
An accident victim who used cannabis to cope with the pain from an injured hip has been spared jail.
An accident victim who used cannabis to cope with the pain from an injured hip has been spared jail.
Ian Raymont was found with the drug on two different occasions when police raided his home in Crediton where police also seized a bag of cocaine.
The 44-year-old was freed on a suspended sentence after a Judge was told the cannabis was for his own use and he was keeping the cocaine on behalf of someone else.
Raymont, of Downeshead Lane, Crediton, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply and two offences of possessing cannabis at Exeter Crown Court.
He was jailed for 15 months, suspended for two years and fined £250 with £400 costs, which will be paid out of £1,000 seized from his home.
Judge Jeremy Griggs told him:"I accept in the light of all the information before me that you suffer from a significant injury to your hip and you were taking cannabis to alleviate that.
"Nonetheless, you knew that was against the law. It is accepted that you were involved in cocaine as a custodian for another, which demonstrates a degree of naivety on your part."
Mr Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said police raided his home on August 16 last year and found 24 grams of cocaine worth £976 and 37 grams of cannabis worth £375.
They returned for a second search in February of this year and found a further 23.68 grams of cannabis worth about £240. Around £1,000 cash was seized in the two raids.
He said Raymont told police the cocaine was not his and he was looking after it from someone else. He added:"We accept he played a lesser role in this offence."
Mr Hugh Ogilvie, defending, said Raymont had used cannabis to cope with chronic pain from an injury to his hip and the large amount found at his home was all for his own use.
He said he had acted as custodian of the cocaine and was not involved in any form of street dealing.
http://www.middevongazette.co.uk 20/03/2014
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