Man with rucksack of drugs spared jail

11:21am Thursday 4th September 2008

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A man caught with hundreds of pounds worth of drugs has escaped a jail term.

Richard Owen had more than 6oz of cannabis when police searched him and friends. But after hearing the 22-year-old had stopped taking drugs and was due to start a plastering course, a judge told him to do community service.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Friday how Owen was arrested as he sat in a car with three friends.

He said police in Pewsham Road car park, Chippenham, approached the vehicle on the afternoon of Saturday August 24 last year. The occupants became agitated and were seen to throw items out of the window.

They were arrested after what they had thrown out was examined by the officers.

Owen's rucksack contained six bags of cannabis each weighing about an ounce, a number of re-sealable plastic bags and some scales. Another member of the group had about £1,500 in cash, the court was told.

When questioned, Owen submitted a prepared statement in which he said they had bought the drugs together for about £600.

He said they had been paid for from a cash pool and were to be split between them.

Owen, of Long Close, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client and some friends had got together to buy the drugs in bulk to get a lower price.

He said that meant there was a distinction between what he had done and others who have drugs to supply to other people.

"Mr Owen is a remorseful young man. He is very chastened by these proceedings. He has described it as a wake-up call," he said.

He said Owen no longer used cannabis and, despite learning difficulties, had managed to get himself on a plastering course at Wiltshire College.

Judge Douglas Field told him: "Your involvement in cannabis has led to nothing but trouble and worry and anxiety.

"I am very pleased to see from this report that you are doing your best to put that way of life behind you and take a course to give you a trade and to not associate with people who use cannabis because it is quite clear to you that it leads to trouble".

He ordered Owen to do 250 hours' community service and put him on an 8pm to 7am curfew for two months.