Street dealers caught with £5,690 cannabis stash given suspended jail sentences  

Reece Brown (19) and Darren Shaw (25) appeared at Leicester Crown Court

Two cannabis street dealers caught with a £5,690 stash of the drug have been given suspended sentences.

Reece Brown (19) and Darren Shaw (25) were arrested when the police raided Brown's home in Avenue Road, Coalville, on October 3 last year.

Victoria Rose. prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "One of the officers went around the rear of the property and saw a male, Shaw, attempting to escape.

"He was in the process of throwing a plastic bucket containing cannabis and bank notes out of the window.

"The police seized various quantities of cannabis, £890 in cash, three sets of electronic scales and several mobile phones. The total amount of cannabis recovered was 545 grams worth between £5,040 and £5,690.

"Brown returned home while the search was under way and was arrested."

Two dealers' lists of Shaw's were found, one relating to 24 names and £3,115 worth of transactions and money owed, and the other had 14 names with amounts totalling £725.

A dealer's list of Brown's contained 14 names and amounts totalling £3,710.

Miss Rose said there was also evidence indicating Brown was purchasing from Shaw and owed him £1,700.

Phone text messages revealed they were involved in street dealing for two to three months.

Miss Rose said phone evidence showed that "a large number" of users were supplied, with Shaw having offered cannabis to 55 people in a group text message.

Brown was sentenced to a 12-month detention sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Shaw, of Westfields, Barlestone, was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and 160 hours of unpaid work. Both pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Judge Philip Head said: "The public is best served by trying to prevent you from committing further drugs offences.

"Neither has previous convictions for drugs. I just wish everyone would understand that cannabis is not a benign drug. It causes mental illness at times, that's why it's serious."

Paul Tubb, mitigating for Brown, said: "It happened 10 months ago and the pre-sentence report says he's matured."

Brown was suffering from "anxiety, low mood and depression" at the height of his £40- to £70-a-day cannabis habit and became involved in dealing to fund his own use.

James Adcock, for Shaw, said: "He drifted into his behaviour because of his own drug misuse, but he's not used any for three months."

The £890 cash seized, belonging to Shaw, was confiscated, along with a laptop and mobile phones belonging to Brown.

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Duo-pound-5-690-cannabis-stash/story-22867786-detail/story.html 03/09/2014