Stoned drug dealer caught driving Audi argued cannabis 'just a plant'
| Published date | 24 November 2020 |
| Publication title | Liverpool Echo: Web Edition Articles (England) |
He seemed nervous, smelt of cannabis and replied: "Yep, I'll be honest, there's a fair bit in my car. I've been selling to my mates."
Officers found 10 bags and a tub full of cannabis stashed inside a rucksack, along with £395 in cash and two mobile phones.
The 30-year-old, who lives with his mum in Lindale Close, Moreton, was then taken to her property for the home to be searched.
He showed officers a sports bag in a conservatory containing more cannabis in eighth, quarter and half an ounce packages.
Power-Sutton admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and his case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
But he told a probation officer he thought cannabis should be legalised and only pleaded guilty because he "had no choice".
Liverpool Crown Court heard officers stopped Power-Sutton for a "routine document check" on Arrowe Park Road in Upton at around 8.30pm, on January 17 this year.
Sarah Holt, prosecuting, said officers recovered 235.7g of cannabis in total, with an estimated street value of up to £3,532, plus around 57g -£570 -of cannabis resin from the car and house.
Ms Holt said ordinarily Power-Sutton would have faced a separate charge for the cannabis resin, but had not in this case.
What is cannabis
Judge Gary Woodhall said it was the second time he had encountered this issue in a week, adding: "I'm not sure why the prosecution aren't charging this properly."
Power-Sutton admitted driving while under the influence of drugs before magistrates in September, when he was fined £300 and banned from driving for three years.
He has 11 previous convictions for 17 offences, including being drunk and disorderly, assaulting police and shoplifting in 2009; shoplifting, theft and failing to comply with a community order in 2010; driving offences in 2011; and possessing cannabis in 2013.
Referring to the pre-sentence report, Judge Woodhall said Power-Sutton "doesn't do himself any favours".
Paul Wood, defending, said: "No he doesn't and he makes my submissions more difficult, and he knows that."
The lawyer confirmed Power-Sutton no longer stood by these claims and admitted the prosecution case in full.
He said his client had a "serious cannabis addiction", adding: "The defendant instructs me he does accept he needs to reduce his cannabis intake and from the £100 a week he's previously been consuming, he's reduced that to about £60 a...
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