Teen thought cannabis was street legal

Published on 7th September 2006 in News

Police officers found a stash of drugs inside the pocket of an unemployed teenager when he was arrested, Goole Magistrates' Court heard earlier this week.

Dale Marshall (18), of Jackson Street, pleaded guilty to charges of being in possession of Diazapam and cannabis as well as a charge of causing harassment, alarm or distress when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Mr Stephen Robinson told the court that at 9.20pm on June 16 police were called to a disturbance outside Hartley's nightclub which resulted in one person being arrested.

Mr Marshall was not involved in this incident but was standing nearby. He became involved and was shouting and swearing at police. In the end Mr Marshall was also arrested.

He was taken to Goole Police Station and a search of his pockets revealed a stash of 45 blue tablets, which he later told police were Diazapam, and a one inch cube of cannabis resin worth around £20.

In interview, the defendant told officers he had been swearing at his girlfriend not the police, but when the officer intervened he may have then sworn at the police. He said all the drugs were for his own personal use.

Defending, Mr Jason Nicholson said his client had been swearing at his girlfriend and that this had attracted the police officers attention. The police officer spoke to him and he swore back.

He said Mr Marshall believed it was no longer illegal to be in possession of cannabis but that he and his friends had all bought pills and were planning to use them over the weekend. He said this was a one-off.

Magistrates sentenced Mr Marshall to a 12-month conditional discharge for being in possession of Diazapam and cannabis. For causing harassment, alarm or distress he was fined £75 and ordered to pay £50 court costs.