Last updated at 17:00, Monday, 16 July 2012

A BARROW man caught with drugs valued at £100,000 has avoided jail.

Stephen Taylor claimed the substances found were for his own use and that it was in his nature to buy in bulk.

But a jury had convicted him of three charges of possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply and one possession with intent charge relating to a Class C drug following a trial. He had admitted one charge of producing cannabis and two of simple possession of a Class C drug.

When the 49-year-old appeared back at court for sentencing on Friday, a judge gave him a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with an order to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

Preston Crown Court heard police had visited his address at Hall Garth, Rampside in Barrow in July last year because there were suspicions he was growing cannabis.

Mr Tom Lord, prosecuting, said 16 cannabis plants and a large quantity of other Class B and C drugs were found in the house.

The search team had knocked over a tub containing white powder. Officers also found the drug mephedrone, as well as recreational drug TFNPP, butolone and MDVP, also known as meow meow.

In total the drugs weighed nearly four kilos and were thought to have a combined street value of around £100,000.

The prosecution said seven iPhones and 10 other mobile phones were found. Two phones were examined and contained text messages suggesting an involvement with drug supplying.

In a statement to police Taylor had said last year: “I purchased all these substances prior to legislation making them illegal.

“I had just drawn some money out of the bank and cashed in an ISA. At the time I was using a lot of mephedrone, so I decided to buy a lot before it became illegal. I used it for a little while, but didn’t like it, so I just left it in the house. I didn’t sell it.

“I tend to buy everything in bulk, from biscuits, shopping and everything, including drugs. It’s just in my compulsive nature.”

Defence barrister Mr Richard Bennett said Taylor still denied ever intending to sell any of the drugs.

Taylor was said to live a “sort of isolated lifestyle”.

Mr Bennett added: “He has a lot to lose if he were to lose his liberty.”

The judge, Recorder John Bromley-Davenport QC, told Taylor “You obviously had these drugs with a view to making money, perhaps to fund your own habit.

“You are of previous good character and you have been in work for a long time.

“I have just come to the conclusion and it is only just, that I can avoid an immediate custodial sentence.”

First published at 16:06, Monday, 16 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk