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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Scotland: Sheriff hits out at system after hearing cannabis dealer was able to claim £700 in benefits.. while in jail By Robert Fairburn The Daily Record Tuesday 10 May 2011 Kevin Drummond said it was "extraordinary" Kevin Laidlaw was able to still claim the cash from his cell. And he was astonished no mechanism was in place to stop benefits being paid to someone sent to jail. Sheriff Drummond spoke out after presiding over the case of Laidlaw's mother and two of his former partners. They admitted presenting giro cheques at a post office and forging his signature to ensure money was paid into his account. Selkirk Sheriff Court was told his mum Lynn Turnbull, 51, who lives in the town and has convictions for fraud, twice forged her son's signature to get £273. Former girlfriend Joanne Butler, 21, of Galashiels, admitted getting £136 for Laidlaw, while another expartner Laura Taylor, 30, of Selkirk, admitted two charges involving £283 of jobseeker's allowance. It all happened while Laidlaw was inside from September 2008 to February 2009. He had been jailed for dealing in cannabis. Lawyers for all three women - who are on benefits themselves - claimed their clients felt they were doing nothing wrong and Laidlaw was entitled to the money. Mark Keane, prosecuting, described how the offences came to light when Laidlaw contacted JobCentre Plus on his release from prison. An investigation was launched and it was found giro cheques had been issued and cashed. Sheriff Drummond asked: "Is there no provision in the system where appropriate benefits cease whenever a person is sentenced to a period of imprisonment?" Mr Keane replied that the onus of responsibility was on the person making the claim to inform the authorities that they were in prison. Sheriff Drummond said: "Meanwhile, public money keeps getting sent out. I find it extraordinary." He ordered all three women to pay back the sums falsely claimed "to reimburse the public purse" within six months and deferred sentence until November 7. It was not mentioned in court whether any action had been taken against 24-year-old Laidlaw. Sheriff Drummond - who also presides over Peebles Sheriff Court - is no stranger to speaking out on various issues. Last year, he hit out at the Crown Office "one size fits policy" in Scottish courts towards domestic abuse. He said it was a "grave wrong" that prosecutors were not able to "judge cases on their individual merits but instead rigidly stick to a pre-determined policy". In 2008, he criticised the early release of prisoners, branding his sentencing powers a "charade". Sheriff Drummond said it was bringing the system into disrepute and making his sentences meaningless. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/05/10/sheriff-hits-out-at-system-after-hearing-cannabis-dealer-was-able-to-claim-700-in-benefits-while-in-jail-86908-23119914/
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