Cannabis supplier was trying to pay off £3k cocaine debt
A CANNABIS dealer got involved in the drugs trade to pay off an old cocaine debt, a court heard.
Steven Palmer claimed he was regularly assaulted and had no option but to sell drugs.
Nottingham Crown Court heard he had a £3,000 debt for his use of cocaine, leading to him getting involved in "small scale supply" to people he knew.
Palmer told police that he had half-an-ounce on him for personal use when he was arrested on April 24 because he smelt of cannabis.
But a search of a garden shed where he lived led to more cannabis stored in bags being found.
It was worth more than £900. Police analysed a mobile phone they recovered and found messages on there relating to the supply of drugs.
One, read out at Nottingham Crown Court, said: "It's Eileen. Have you got any bud? I need half-an-ounce."
When first questioned by officers, 23-year-old Palmer claimed the drugs were for his own use. But he replied "no comment" when confronted with what had been found at his home.
At court, Palmer pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply to persons unknown.
Palmer's previous convictions include burglary and handling stolen goods. Palmer, of Hathern Green, Lenton Abbey, had been on licence at the time. He was recalled to prison on May 25 to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
The judge gave him four months in prison for this offence, suspended for 12 months, with supervision from the probation service.
He said he recognised that Palmer had already spent time in custody and it was his first specific drugs offence.
Roger Wilson, in mitigation, said: "The profit he made was tiny. He left school without any qualifications. Now he wants to do something with his life."
7 Comments
by Hooplah, Notts
Friday, September 03 2010, 11:14AM
“I love reading the statements read out in mitigation, it's better than reading Vizz!. . Let's examine the main points;
1. He only made a tiny proffit. . Irrelivant, even if the drongo made a loss, he is still breaking the law.
2. He left school with no qualifications. . So did I, but after 20yrs I enrolled in college, took an Access course, went on to uni and got a degree.
3. Now he wants to do something with his life. . Well he already is, he's a burglar and drug dealer!”
by onlooker, notts
Friday, September 03 2010, 4:48AM
“Do gooders think they know it all , beat them all to a pulp.”
by Ian, Hyson Green
Friday, September 03 2010, 2:16AM
“The courts are so lenients with these caracters instead of setting a president by applying a harsh sentence against drug dealing they let them scott free what kind of justice what kind od society we live in, these drud dealers are destroying so many lives and making life hell to innocent citizens but they get the royal treatments in Courts!!!”
by Seth, Lenton Abbey
Thursday, September 02 2010, 7:47PM
“Steven Palmer has been a burglar of houses in the Lenton Abbey area for years. He came out of prison EARLY and dealt drugs, so the judge gives a suspended sentence - how is that at all fair? Why are not CPS appealling against this pathetic sentence!?”
by phil, gedling
Thursday, September 02 2010, 5:42PM
“i left school with no qualifications.i did not sell drugs and i got a job and thats how it should be but the rich keep getting more money and that stops young people getting jobs greed ?and then folk will try and make ends meet then they get caught and must pay the price.keep the system going or there will be no jobs ?on that side”
by Hans, Relief
Thursday, September 02 2010, 12:07PM
“Funny how they all want to 'do something with their life' ...after getting caught.
Drug dealing Vermin!”
by JuniorWarden, Wollaton Park
Thursday, September 02 2010, 11:11AM
“Another dealer 'gets away with it'! When will the judiciary come to their senses? How many lives will be wasted before they do?”