A teenage drug dealer caught peddling his wares in Marlborough while on a community order for similar matters, has been given a chance to prove himself.
Jake Stacey was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis and bundles of cash when he was in a car that was stopped for speeding. But after hearing the 19-year-old, who got 12 good GCSEs, was doing well working as a chef in a gastropub, a judge said he would put off passing sentence.
He told Stacey that if he stayed out of trouble and off drugs, carried on with rehabilitation and work, and saved for a fine, he may not jail him.
Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how police stopped a Ford Fiesta on London Road, Marlborough, on the evening of Friday November 16. He said they thought the vehicle had been going too quickly and when they spoke to the driver they picked up the smell of cannabis.
Stacey, who was a passenger in the vehicle, said he had just smoked a joint and when he was searched he produced a bag of cannabis. He also had £735 in cash on him, £700 of which was bundles of £100 which Mr Meeke said is common for drug dealers.
In the foot well officers found more snap seal bags, some empty and some with drugs in, and five more wraps in Stacey’s underwear when he was later searched.
When his home was searched he said officers found a shoe box containing more cannabis and a Kit Kat box with a further £1,000 in cash. Mr Meeke said he was questioned and admitted the cash was mostly from selling drugs saying he did it to fund his own use.
He said that earlier this year he was convicted of fraud and in the summer being concerned in the supply of cannabis and offering to supply amphetamines.
Stacey, of Rabley Wood View, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
Giving an oral report probation officer Jackie Reynolds said that he told her he smoked the drug because he had sciatica.
She said she asked whether he was on prescribed medication and he said he was not, as he feared getting addicted. “I said cannabis is not good for you as opposed to Nurofen,” she said.
Lucy Morrell, defending, said her client is the second of 11 children and did well in his GCSEs and went to college, but dropped out as all his friends went elsewhere. He then got a job as a kitchen porter in a gastropub and has already worked his way to chef, taking home about £250 a week, and they are keen for him to get qualifications.
She said he struggled with anxiety and depression, but was prepared to do unpaid work and cooperate with drug rehabilitation.
Judge Robert Pawson said he would defer sentence until May 31 to give him a chance to prove himself. He told him to stop using cannabis, continue to work, comply with probation and drug treatment, stay out of trouble and save for a four figure fine.