DRUG 'WAS MEDICINAL

A 23-YEAR-OLD man with a skin complaint has using cannabis to help condition.

James Hicks, of Cressing Braintree, appeared before Chelmsford magistrates
yesterday, with the possession of 134 Grams of cannabis.

Denis Catley, 25, of Trottersfield in Braintree, and Mark Nicholls, 29, of
Valentine Way in Silver End also appeared before the court and admitted the
same offence.

The court heard police searched the Cressing Road house on July 5.

Gerald Isted, prosecuting said Catley was found with less than gram in his
possession and only two grams were attributed to Nicholls - worth less than
UKP 5 combined

The resin used by Hicks had a street value of almost UKP 400.
paraphernalia, including smoking pipes, were also discovered.

In mitigation, Russell Haldane said Hicks was using the drug to ease his
medical condition, psoriasis, but would now seek "more conventional methods".

Catley and Nicholls, representing themselves, said they had nothing to add.

Magistrates ordered that the drugs and paraphernalia to be destroyed and
fined Hicks UKP 140.

Both Catley and Nicholls we fined UKP 70 each.