Judge recognises addict’s efforts
A cannabis addict was given another chance after being arrested for the second time in the same place for drug offences.
John Hatson, 38, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday just four months after he had been handed a suspended prison sentence for being in possession of the same drug.
Prosecutor Michael Crimp said Hatson had been arrested at the same location and driving the same car as when he was detained before.
Hatson, of St John’s Place, Bury St Edmunds, had been approached by police officers on the forecourt of a filling station in Tayfen Road, Bury. He was seen to swallow something which he admitted was cannabis. A search of his home revealed a small quanity of cannabis and four cannabis plants being grown in the garden.
Hatson had pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and production of a class B drug.
Defending, Charles Myatt said Hatson had not deliberately flouted the suspended sentence and had worked hard to comply with the conditions attached to it. He had also got a job and acted as an unofficial carer to an elderly man.
Mr Myatt said Hatson had managed to stop using all illicit substances except cannabis. He was determined to stop but it was harder than he expected.
Judge Peter Fenn told Hatson that taking into account all the circumstances, he would not activate the suspended sentence. Hatson was made the subject of a community order with a requirement to take part in a “Thinking Skills” programme and remain under Probation Service supervision for 12 months.
Email to a friend
Print this page- New mayor drives through Tesco’s doors
- Leading role given to ‘trailblazing’ schools
- Old friends form new group with man who toured in hit band
- World’s first professor of networking to speak at West Suffolk College business breakfast
- Council chief to be guest speaker at Bury St Edmunds Chamber of Commerce annual meeting
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South west
