|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
Would-be MP escapes jail in cannabis case
Worthing Herald, Sussex
Thursday 24 May 2001 A pro-cannabis campaigner who is standing for Parliament broke was spared a prison sentence for peddling the drug. Christopher Baldwin, who is standing as a prospective MP for East Worthing and Shoreham for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, broke down in court after receiving a suspended jail term. The disabled 51-year-old, who uses a wheelchair and crutches, was caught with seven kilos of cannabis, worth about £10,000 in a sports bag. He admitted possession of drugs with intent at Lewes Crown Court on Monday. Undercover officers had been staking out a lock-up garage in Brighton for two weeks when Baldwin, who lives in Carnegie Close, Worthing, and has a string of of drugs convictions, arrived with his bag full of herbal cannabis. He went into the garage and was arrested as he started to unload blocks of the Class B drug into a freezer. Inside the garage officers found scales, bags and discarded foil which forensic experts said was used to wrap almost 50kg of cannabis. Representing him, Tony Loader said his client's medical conditions, including a damaged spine which affected his legs, should allow the court to treat his as an "exceptional case". He said: "He was acting, no more and no less, as a courier. He uses cannabis for pain relief and finds he gets considerable relief from cannabis. He has a physical need for cannabis, rather than a social or recreational need. "He is in need of cannabis on a regular basis and is a target for people who approach him for just this sort of opportunity. He was approached and stupidly agreed." Prosecuting, Richard Barton said, despite the extensive police operation, nobody else was arrested in relation to the drugs which were found in the garage. Mr Barton said: "The defendant indicated he would not say who had asked him to do this and said he had the keys to the garage for about two days." Baldwin received an 18 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The drugs were ordered destroyed. Sentencing Baldwin, Judge Richard Hayward said: "You are a long- term cannabis user and seem to be proud of the fact. "If you were a fit man you would go to prison for quite a long time. A prison regime for you would be extremely difficult. I am not going to imprison you but, if you get involved in peddling drugs again, you will go to prison." Speaking after the case, Baldwin said: "I feel completely and utterly drained and relieved. I will be having a joint tonight, I sure will. "I don't see using cannabis as a crime. It is cannabis prohibition that is a crime. "I have been taking cannabis for about 30 years. I have a twisted spine, which makes my legs spastic. "The only thing I have found which allows me to function normally is cannabis."
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!