Supervision order for cannabis man

3:50pm Thursday 13th November 2008

Michael John Edwards , aged 22, took flight when he discovered that the two men talking to his friends in Devon Drive, Pembroke, on the evening of Wednesday September 24th were plain clothes policemen, magistrates heard today (Thursday).

When they caught him, lumps of cannabis resin fell out of his pocket as he fell to the ground. They weighed 244.5 grams and, together with another 9oz of cannabis resin found in his clothing, had an estimated street value of £734.

Another 35 grams of cannabis was found in his caravan which he said was for his personal use, the total value being £803, said Crown Prosecutor Nick Newton.

When interviewed, Edwards said he received a phone call from a person who later gave him the cannabis to hand over to someone in Buttermilk Lane. He appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply and simple possession.

He said he was merely passing it on rather than being a dealer himself, and when he realised the men were police officers he tried to run away because of the quantity of cannabis in his possession.

His solicitor Alun Morgan said Edwards, of Cheriton House Caravan, Golden Hill, Lower Row, Pembroke, had been frank and honest with the police. He had experimented with every kind of illegal substance since the age of nine and a drug rehabilitation order could address what had been part of his life for 13 years.

The magistrates imposed a 12-month supervision order with a drug rehabilitation requirement to reduce his dependency on drugs. His drug level would be reviewed in December and the court made a destruction order for the drugs and ordered Edwards to pay £75 costs.