UK: Cafe owner faces cannabis charges

Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:

After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

The BBC

Friday 13 Sep 2002

---
A man who opened Britain's first Amsterdam-style coffee shop has gone on
trial charged with drugs offences.

Colin Davies, 44, opened the Dutch Experience cafe in Stockport, Greater
Manchester, in September 2001.

He claimed to supply cannabis to people using the drug for medicinal
purposes, but police raided the premises and he was arrested.

His home at Romney Towers, Stockport, was searched and 90kg of cannabis was
found, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Customs officers later found packages addressed to Mr Davies in Dover
containing 4kg of the drug, valued at around £18,000, the prosecution said.

He was then arrested again in November 2001 after a further raid at the
Dutch Experience and £3,000 was found at his home.

Prosecutor Alan Wolstenholme said this must have been the proceeds from
selling cannabis, as Mr Davies was claiming disability allowance at the time.

Mr Davies is charged with seven counts, including possession of a class B
drug with intent to supply, being involved in the importation and supply of
cannabis and allowing premises to be used for the smoking of the drug.

Phillip Rainford, 35, of Market Place, Stephen Caveney, 47, of Risworth
Close and Andrew Young, 32, of Reddish Road - all Stockport - face charges
surrounding supplying the drug.

Robin Wright, 46, of Duncan Road, Longsight, Manchester, is accused of
allowing the cafe to be used for smoking cannabis while Mr Davies was in
custody.

All five men deny the charges. The trial continues.

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!