Telford magistrates aghast at defendant's relaxed attitude
Telford magistrates were left aghast when a drug user they called into court for sentencing told them he was too busy, telling them through the door he would be "two minutes".
Steven Paul Holford's relaxed attitude to the proceedings against him for possession of cannabis did not go down well with the magistrates yesterday.
The 27-year-old from Madeley received a dressing down from the legal adviser when he did grace the court with his presence.
He uttered "sorry guys" by way of apology to the justice bench.
Legal adviser Kerry Nickless told him: "When you are called into court you do not open the door and say two minutes, you come straight into court, it is extremely disrespectful."
Prosecutor Miss Sara Beddow told magistrates police had found 1.94 grams of skunk cannabis at Holford's home in High Street.
Officers searching his home also found a set of weighing scales
"He told police he purchased a quarter of the cannabis each week for £50 and used the scales to divide it equally into a gram a day," she said.
Holford, who wore a hoodie and jeans, represented himself and pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug. When asked if he had anything to say in his defence he replied: "I just had it there to smoke like."
He was fined £175 and ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £25.
"I ain't gonna be able to pay it now, I get paid fortnightly," he told them.
"What about the other stuff that got taken off me?" he asked. "They took £200 off me. I could've paid today if they gave me it back," he suggested helpfully.
Holford was advised to take this request up with West Mercia Police and told he was free to go.
"Thank you guys," he said on his way out.
