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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Village saves drugs man from jail
BBC Online
Wednesday 16 Jun 2004 A Cumbrian man has escaped a jail sentence for drugs possession after people in his village wrote character references to the court in his support. Police found a kilo of cannabis during a raid on Stuart Wilkinson's cottage in Kershopefoot. But his neighbours wrote glowing testimonies, saying Mr Wilkinson was a helpful and active citizen. Mr Wilkinson admitted that he was in the wrong, but said he was delighted people have not condemned him for it. Mr Wilkinson, 38, said he had bought the cannabis to share with friends, but it was found by police and he could have faced jail. However, a judge at Carlisle Crown Court gave Mr Wilkinson a community punishment after hearing character references from people in the village telling how he helped elderly people and looked after rescue dogs. Mr Wilkinson said: "What I did for the people meant so much to them - changing old people's gas bottles or just calling in to see if they want anything. "Most of the time they don't want anything, just a chat because they don't see many people. "Although it is a little village, you don't expect that sort of support after a drugs charge. "For a drugs charge previously, I would probably have been kicked out the village but instead they supported me."
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