Mar 03 – Cannabis Dealer Jailed For Eight Months
A local security guard who dealt cannabis was today jailed for eight months after having been found guilty following a short trial.
A jury found John Paul Pereira, 30, guilty of possession with intent to supply 97.83g of cannabis resin after a three day trial in January.
The charge dates back to the night of 21st March 2013 when Pereira was stopped by police officers as he was riding his motorbike up Prince Edward’s Road. On being confronted by the officers, Pereira handed over a bag that contained 10 wrappers of cannabis resin.
The total amount of cannabis seized was 97.83g with an estimated street value of almost £500.
The Crown had argued throughout the trial that the evidence suggested that Pereira was a “delivery man” taking the drugs from suppliers to street dealers.
The defendant denied the charge and argued that, as he smokes 20-30 joints a day, the cannabis in his possession was for his own use.
A drugs expert from the RGP, however, said that it was highly unlikely that Pereira could have kept up this level of consumption and held down a regular job.
At a hearing this morning Pereira’s lawyer, Ian Watts, explained that his client had been a cannabis addict since he was 13. Mr Watts said that Pereira still maintained that the drugs had been for personal consumption.
Puisne Judge Karen Prescott, in sentencing, said that Pereira had not shown any signs of remorse or regret. She added that he had continued to ignore the impact that his cannabis addiction had had on his life and noted that he had not taken any steps to address this.
Pereira had already pleaded guilty to simple possession of the cannabis and a small amount of amphetamine – Judge Prescott imposed no separate penalties for these offences. She sentenced him to a total of eight months behind bars.
Ishbel Armstrong appeared for the Crown.
