Dealer who hid drug cash in his sofa is jailed
A DRUG dealer caught with more than £1,000 worth of cannabis has been jailed – 18 months after being spared prison for a similar offence.
Andrew Gibson was told he had been 'completely undeterred' by a nine-month suspended sentence, having been found with a 'significant stock' of the Class B drug.
The 43-year-old, who is the sole carer for his 11-year-old son, was caught when police searched his home on February 7 this year.
Prosecutor Pat Sullivan yesterday told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court Gibson was present at the address in Brownley Road, Smallthorne, at 7.15pm.
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He said: "They searched the house and car and found 313 grams of cannabis or cannabis resin together with £825 cash."
The drugs had a street value of £1,345, added Mr Sullivan.
Gibson told police the cannabis was for his own use and the cash was from his car business.
The court heard Gibson committed the offence while serving a nine-month suspended prison sentence for a similar matter.
Gibson, of Brownley Road, Smallthorne, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply. The plea was entered on the basis he was a heavy user of cannabis and he sold some to his friends.
Peter McCartney, mitigating, said this offence was committed two months before the expiry of the suspended sentence order.
"I concede he offended in the same way," said Mr McCartney.
"The order has now expired. He has completed the supervision element of it."
He said Gibson was a 'low-level retailer' who supplied friends to cover his own costs.
He said Gibson had used cannabis for almost 30 years.
But said he has not taken the drug since June.
Mr McCartney said Gibson would benefit from more assistance from probation.
He added: "His commitment to change needs to be tested in the longer term."
But Judge Paul jailed Gibson for 16 months and added four months for breaching the suspended sentence. He told the defendant: "You are 43 and you have a record of offending going back more than 30 years. The court gave you a chance in April 2011.
"When the police raided your house they found a significant amount of cannabis, 70 grams in the kitchen, in three separate bags, together with roughly an ounce in the living room and eight bags containing 217 grams in your vehicle.
"There was a significant amount of money stuffed down the side of your settee.
"I sentence you on the basis you were a dealer and you had significant stock. You were completely undeterred by the suspended sentence."
Judge Glenn said he felt sorry for Gibson's son and added: "You should have thought of his welfare."
He added: "Motivated by financial advantage your role was significant."
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Judge Glenn certified Gibson benefited from his crime by £1,245. He ruled the available amount was £825 and made a confiscation order in that sum.
Gibson will serve up to half the sentence with the rest on licence.
Comments
by Johntoe
Sunday, October 07 2012, 12:30PM
“Yeah! and I hope social services "are involved' in every case where parents use ALL or ANY drugs in front of their children, ya know drugs that kill hundreds of thousands of people every year? drugs like alcohol that cause massive social problems 90% of all violent crimes are committed by people 'on' alcohol, and 75% of ALL crimes are committed by people 'on' it,
It can, and does and has killed MILLIONS of it's users, they die long slow agonising deaths,
But Hey, someone in a suit has said those 2 drugs you CAN use, so it's OK to use those in front of your kids,
Is that the kind of impression you drinkers and tobacco smokers want to give your kids?
Because I am impressed by the concern for this child shown by so many of you kind hearted and 'decent' thoughtful and intelligent people,
and I know you will share my opinion when I say it most certainly IS WRONG to use or be involved with cannabis when young and impressionable children are present, even though there is not ONE proven case of anyone dying from using cannabis anywhere in the world EVER,
and if we agree on THAT, then, because alcohol and tobacco kill hundreds of thousands of people every year (and countless millions throughout history) it follows that you will of course also, (and even more robustly) condemn the actions of ALL and EVERY parent who would use the KILLER drugs alcohol and/or tobacco in front of their children, and you will of course, also demand social services get informed?
Because if you don't agree, then,.... some people 'might' say you are guilty of hypocrisy?
OOPS did someone just notice that the emperor is starkers?”
by james208
Saturday, October 06 2012, 6:44PM
“Drug dealer Andrew Gibson is the sole carer for his 11-year-old son!! Have social services been involved? Very disturbing.”
by camband
Saturday, October 06 2012, 11:31AM
“Yes, correct, as I was highlighting by the comparisons -in case some had failed to notice his 'trolling techniques'.
Is he a secret alcoholic ... with a sense of guilt..?”
by SourAlienOG
Friday, October 05 2012, 9:17PM
“''And just as significantly, the strange and elusive 'fissionchips' -is not to be found on either 'ALCOHOL RELATED ADDICTION STORY'.''
Thats trolls for you. Why would he be on an alcohol related story? Slim chance of antagonising pro cannabis/anti prohibition people there. Thats what it thrives on, attention, good or bad. It would have to be truly insane to believe people take its comments seriously. So its not about a debate for said troll, its about, well...trolling. Let it carry on, apart from advertising Cannabis Law Reform, its making prohibitionists look like the fools that they are, a parody of the typical prohibitionist. Said troll is like a stale joke.”
by camband
Friday, October 05 2012, 8:57PM
“Worth taking the trouble to correct 'typing errors' on my last comment -if only for certainty of purpose.
Should have read.... "IN a serious and violent manner... WERE SENT DIRECTLY FROM COURT TO SERVE A JAIL SENTENCE".”
by camband
Friday, October 05 2012, 8:46PM
“Two Other Sentinel Stories -with some significance to the debate:
FIRST STORY (headline):- "Drunk mother on a crime spree used pipe to threaten woman".
(MOTHER Penny Minor who went on a crime spree and intimidated a witness when her drinking spiralled out of control has avoided an immediate jail sentence).
SECOND STORY (headline):- "Ex-police officer turned up to court 'smelling of booze' to answer drink-drive charges"
(A RETIRED police officer charged with drink driving was arrested for the same offence – when he turned up at court smelling of booze. Now 59-year-old Slinn, of Cheadle, has been handed a five-year driving ban and a suspended prison sentence.)
The significance? NEITHER of the two ALCOHOL ADDICTS -whose addiction put the public at risk is a serious and violent manner... WERE SENT TO DIRECTLY FROM COURT TO SERVE A JAIL SENTENCE.
And just as significantly, the strange and elusive 'fissionchips' -is not to be found on either 'ALCOHOL RELATED ADDICTION STORY'.”
by SourAlienOG
Friday, October 05 2012, 7:27PM
“truestokie
Legal highs (not usually legal) are the result of prohibition, fact. Legal highs cause MUCH more damage than cannabis, as do alcohol, tobacco and aspirin.
Thanks to prohibition, low CBD cannabis is available, the golden rule for dealers is to push the strongest stuff. A lack in CBD may cause short term paranoia in some people. CBD is an anti psychotic cannabinoid, and there is not one study proving a causal link between cannabis use and schizophrenia, professor Grinspoon knows this is not true. Its another case of reefer madness propaganda designed to confuse the public, leaving them misinformed about the science of cannabis. In countries where cannabis is legally regulated, CBD rich cannabis is prescribed to people with schizophrenia, psychosis, PTSD, Panic/eating/sleeping disorder and so on. Liquid cannabis known as 'Sativex' produced by GW pharma in Kent, is stronger than any street weed in the UK, yet NO mention of Psychological problems developing, in the list of side effects. Hmm.
''alcoholics don't normally force their drinks down the throats of their children''
Whoah, are you suggesting cannabis users force the smoke down the throats of their children? LOL wow, the parents i know, who use cannabis dont even smoke it while their kid is around, their children wouldnt even know mummy and daddy where cannabis users. Im not suggesting every cannabis smoker is as responsible as most, but neither are alcohol users and yes some do offer their child a sip, which is MUCH worse than a kid getting a faint whiff of weed smoke, which doesnt get them high, its a smell. Blowing smoke in the childs face now, thats different. What information do you have to say this man was blowing smoke in his childs face?
''but alcohol is legal and mind bending drugs are not''
Alcohol is a mind bending drug, but a legal one. Every time someone gets drunk, and does something they normally wouldnt, like behave loud and disgusting, violent start fights take risks and so on, well thats ALCOHOL PSYCHOSIS, which is MUCH more prevalent than any psychological disorder prohibitionists claim cannabis induces. You speak of harm reduction, yet if that was the reason cannabis is prohibited, wouldnt the same apply to alcohol, cigarettes and fast food? Cannabis being against the law has nothing to do with harm reduction, scientific evidence, expert advice or to see dealers put out of business long term. Its all about money, greed, vested interest and personal prejudices. That is what our drugs policy is based on.
Prohibition does nothing to protect the young and vulnerable, and in fact has created a situation far more psychotic than cannabis ever could. Gang violence, under aged use, kids enticed by gangsterism, contamination, theft of electricity, i could go on. Without legal regulation, children still find cannabis easier to obtain than alcohol and tobacco even with those legal drugs so poorly regulated.
When a country legally regulates cannabis, the use goes down along with associated crime, and age of first use goes up, the statistical evidence is too strong to say otherwise. All prohibiting cannabis does is gift the market to the only people in society who are willing to risk freedom for money, criminals. So dont talk about 'saving the children' when you support a policy that does nothing to protect them.
Sorry I dislike drug dealers and children using drugs or becoming enticed by gangsterism, so i say NO to prohibition and NOW to legal regulation.”
by truestokie
Friday, October 05 2012, 7:01PM
“Johntoe, alcoholics don't normally force their drinks down the throats of their children.
Yes I appreciate some people are weak where alcohol is concerned, and that their families suffer, but alcohol is legal and mind bending drugs are not.
With these new drugs (legal highs?) on the market we have enough to deal with, and the evidence of paranoia, and schizophrenia is not imagination.
I agree that for medical purposes it should be available
This man was a heavy user and in all probability smoked it in the house where the fumes would have been taken in by his son.
He was a long time user and a dealer, with little regard for the health and safety of his son.”
by Johntoe
Friday, October 05 2012, 5:45PM
“I HATE with a passion those who would supply ANY drug to, or encourage children to take drugs ANY drug, and I most certainly include tobacco and alcohol in that statement,
I am PROUD to say that only ONCE did I ever hear of someone selling drugs to under 18s, it was extasy, lets just say 'he stopped' and leave it at that,
I LOVE the way all you prohibitionists think I am 'soft on drugs' you have NO idea,
If I had MY way, alcohol and all drugs would be for sale to people over 21 only, NO drugs would be advertised anywhere other than at point of sale, No supermarkets or corner shops etc, only in legally licensed and monitored outlets,
causing a nuisance while under the influence of ANY drug in a public place, shouting swearing staggering about being sick etc would carry a fine, acts of violence an automatic jail term,
illegal selling of ANY drug,... automatic jail term, knowingly selling to anyone under 21,... 5 years inside,
I want to protect kids from drugs not encourage them to use drugs like the alcohol advertisers do,
drugs aren't funny, don't make you attractive to the opposite sex, don't make you sophisticated, nor are they the 'only' way to have a good time,
Kids get drugs from unscrupulous illegal dealers, legalising them would put the vast majority of the back street dealers out of business, not to mention the threat of at least 5 years inside, would only make it FAR harder than it is at the moment for kids to get their hands on drugs, and surely we ALL want that,.... Don't we?
Or, carry on as we have been for the past 40 + years, getting nowhere except pouring more and more tax payers money down a black hole,
Soft on drugs, ME? I don't think so,”
by SourAlienOG
Friday, October 05 2012, 5:25PM
“Johntoe
Brilliant Post, speaking of addiction, I wonder how many of these prohibitionists could go a day without a Tea or Coffee?
Nicotine, with a dependency almost as strong as Heroine believed by scientists, is one of the toughest things to give up. And it doesnt even get you 'high', its a craving the body desires, not so much the mind. Yet, completely legal, even though its addictive qualities are well known, as are its carcinogenic effects. The simple minded thought would be 'Well Why Dont They Outlaw Cigarettes?'. The answer isnt so simple, but if they wanted to prohibit they could at the flick of a switch.
1 The amount of money the government make from the addiction, whether it be cigarettes or expensive kits to help you 'quit'. 2 Because if they had half a brain, they would know what a disaster alcohol prohibition was and, 'lets not make the same mistake twice'. 3 Because death sells.”