Telford man with £37,000 worth of cannabis is given suspended sentence

Dean Howlett, 39, of Wombridge, Oakengates, admitted possession of the Class B drug cannabis, with intent to supply, when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said that Howlett's home had been searched by police on November 13, 2014, where they had found 23 five-ounce bags of skunk cannabis, amounting to 2,453 grammes in total.

The court heard that the estimated street value of the drugs was anywhere between £24,500 and £36,790. Mr Jones said police also found four sets of scales during the search, as well as packaging material, and messages "indicative of dealing" on his mobile phone.

One said: "You sorted yet mate, any joy on the green?"

Mr Jones told the court that Howlett had pleaded guilty on the basis that he had been in debt to the dealer and had then agreed to hold the drugs as a way to pay it off. The basis was accepted by the prosecution.

Michael Grey, for Howlett, said: "It is an unusual case, he is 39 with nothing really in his past to say that he would have possession of a valuable amount of cannabis."

He added: "The only advantage here was he was paid in cannabis, he made no money out of it."

Mr Grey said that Howlett had told probation officers: "I have been told my family would 'get it' so I couldn't say anything. I was trapped."

Sentencing, Judge Peter Barrie said: "It seems to me you played a significant operational role in the system of supplying a large quantity of cannabis because you were responsible for bagging it up into deals and storing it in your house. Quantities worth many thousands of pounds.

"It seems to me you were motivated by self interest, partly perhaps by threats made against you and your family, but chiefly because you had the advantage of not having to buy cannabis from elsewhere."He was sentenced to six months custody, suspended for 18 months.

As part of his suspended sentence order He will be supervised by the probation service for 12 months, will have to complete eight sessions of the substance abuse workbook, 10 sessions of the victim awareness workbook and 100 hours work in the community.

He was also ordered to pay £150 costs.