Barrow dad wanted to spend drug profits on Christmas gifts
Last updated at 16:40, Tuesday, 04 December 2012
A FATHER-OF-TWO took to growing cannabis in a bid to give his children a Christmas to remember.
Lee Beattie, of Adelphi Court, Barrow, pleaded guilty to possession of a class B substance in Furness Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The court heard how Beattie, 24, had been released from prison seven months earlier and was struggling to find work.
Described as a cannabis addict, Beattie had acquired a quantity of cannabis which he intended to sell to friends and family to make money to buy his young son and daughter Christmas presents.
Police conducting a search arrived at Beattie’s home at around 12.30pm on November 16.
Mrs Pam Ward, prosecuting, said: “Police spoke to Mr Beattie and asked him if there were any drugs on the premises, he said: ‘I might as well tell you, there is a blue tub on the kitchen table – I needed to make money for Christmas’.”
Beattie went on to tell officers he was growing a number of cannabis plants before they recovered a cannabis grinder, three bongs, 32 individual wraps of cannabis and more drug paraphernalia.
He had bought around £250 of cannabis and was planning to sell it in a bid to raise money for Christmas presents, but due to his addiction had smoked a large amount himself.
The court heard he planned to sell each wrap for £10 to friends and family.
Beattie had been released from prison on May 17 and is on licence until December 16.
Miss Jessica Partington, defending, said: “The defendant has had an addiction to cannabis for a number of years. In 2008 he had a conviction for possession. Since his release from prison he has been actively looking for work.
“He has two young children and his aim in life is to get a house where they can live together and he can afford to buy them presents. He wanted to use the profit to buy Christmas presents for his son and daughter. Due to his addiction, he had smoked a lot of the cannabis himself.”
Miss Partington added Beattie’s search for work had been “admirable”.
Mrs Jacqui Barnfield, presiding magistrate, said: “We did consider custody for this, however we felt that these matters did not cross the threshold.”
Beattie was given a 12-month supervision order, ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and ordered to complete a six month drug rehabilitation course.
He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
First published at 16:37, Tuesday, 04 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Any benefit he claimed while being a "drugs dealer" should be returned to the relevent agency as he earning an income. He cant be claiming sickness benefit (as he is well enough to work), or JCP (he had a job). It may be an illegal job, but he should not be on benefit. No doubt tax payers are also paying for his accommodation as well where this illegal activity was occuring.
People who clearly break the law and are claiming benefit should have the option of being paid in currancy removed. They should be isssed with vouchers, so they limited to spending their "benefit" on food etc and not have the option to be able to spend it on buying drug paraphanalia, alcohol, tobacco or tattoos. This individual would surely agree as it would ensure his "benefit" would be used on his children which is why he said he was committing this crime. I feel sorry for the children who are a generation growing up thinking this is how to behave. Best thing you can do for these kids is get them out of the benefit trap and get a job so they have a positive make role model in their lives.
Put some money back into the system that pays for you to exist.
Stop being a victim and do something to make your kids proud instead of being embarrassed by you.
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Give the lad a break!
Posted by Me on 5 January 2013 at 19:46