Summary
Police arrested our client for breach of court bail and later searched both himself and his vehicle. Upon doing so, 18 wraps of cocaine were found on his person as well as drug paraphernalia and knives found in his car. Subsequently, our client was charged with possession with the intent to supply (PWITS) Class A drugs and possession of a bladed article.
Charges for PWITS will normally be met with substantial custodial sentences. However, following his appearance at St Albans Crown Court, our client was given a 24-month suspended sentence, meaning he will not be placed in custody unless he re-offends during that time and provided he undertakes the courses ordered by the Judge. This favorable outcome is the result of the diligent legal guidance provided by our team at Lawtons.
About the Case
Our client suffered with addiction issues and had been a crack cocaine user for over 5 years. Over this period, his usage had fluctuated but had become severe around the time of his arrest where, on average, he was using three bags a day. The drugs tended to be bought in bulk strictly for personal use but inevitably they were shared and sold with friends who were also users.
Legal Executive Toni Hennessy-Ling litigated our client’s case where she compiled significant mitigation regarding his addiction issues. During this time, our client was regularly engaging with Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR) to address said issues and prevent re-offending.
Ultimately, our client pleaded guilty to the PWITS charge, however asserted that the bladed articles in his possession tools he used for his job as a gardener and handyman.
Court
Several disruptions were encountered in this case due to various adjournments, the court failing to provide an interpreter for our client and no pre-sentence report being prepared by the Probation Service. These delays were extremely frustrating and distressing for our client, but Toni made sure to keep him updated with each development to ensure full transparency.
The case was ultimately heard at St Albans Crown Court, where Barrister Drea Becker of 9BR Chambers represented our client. Drea supported him throughout the process and provided expert advocacy for him in court.
Thanks to Toni and Drea’s efforts, a 24-month suspended sentence was invoked in relation to the PWITS. As part of this, he was ordered to complete 220 hours of unpaid work, a further 6 months DRR and 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirements. The charge relating to the bladed article was left to lie on file.
Our client was extremely pleased with this result considering he was facing the risk of being placed in immediate custody. This result is the outcome of the expert support and guidance provided by our team at Lawtons.
Contact Us
We understand that facing a criminal offence can be scary and confusing. You don’t have to go through it alone. If you or someone you know if facing a criminal charge and are in need of guidance, please contact our specialist team on 0333 577 0522 or visit our enquiries page.
