RAPE JUDGE IN ATTACK ON BID TO LEGALISE CANNABIS

by Christian Gysin and Barbara Davies

An Old Baily judge attacked the campaign to legalise cannabis yesterday as
he jailed a rapist who had been smoking the drug.

Judge Michael Coombe heard that labourer Lee Robinson's terrifying assault
on a 23yearold graduate had blighted her life.

Sending Robinson to prison for eight years, he said "There are those who
believe that cannabis should be made a lawful substance.

"I hope people of that mind have the task of dealing with a case like this
and reading the heartbreaking statements of the victim and her family.

"There is no doubt in my mind that a great deal of the explanation for his
behaviour that evening lies in his indulgence in a prohibited and dangerous
drug called cannabis.

"Until he is clear of his habit of taking this addictive and dangerous
drug, he will remain a dangerous man."

Last night the judge's remarks, which came weeks after some Labour MPs
called for a Royal Commission to look at the decriminalisation of cannabis,
were praised by Tory MP Nigel Evans.

"Judges are often accused of being out of touch, but this judge is saying
what people really want and feel," said Mr Evans, who has chaired the
allparty Drugs Misuse Group.

"If this Government went down the road of legalising or decriminalising
cannabis they would be responsible for putting other innocent people, just
like this poor young woman, in great danger. The prodrugs brigade will
never own up to the basic fact that drugs are dangerous."

But Mike Goodman, director of the drugs advice group Release, accused the
judge of being illinformed.

He said: "It is very easy to blame the drug rather than the person. In our
experience cannabis is not a drug that makes people violent or act in an
antisocial way."

Transform, the group calling for changes in drugs policy and legislation,
said : "Using cannabis as a mitigation for his behaviour does a disservice
to those who use the drug medically to alleviate pain." The court heard
that 22yearold Robinson grabbed the young woman as she approached her
sister's home in Wanstead, East London, after an evening celebrating her
birthday and the news that she had been awarded a Bachelor of Science
degree in product management.

He dragged her into a nearby woods and butted her in the face after forcing
her to the ground.

The attack in July, the court heard, left the woman feeling 'disgusted and
degraded'. Robinson was arrested after she fled and flagged down a passing
motorist. She managed to remember his car number.

Robinson, of Greville Road, Walthamstow, East London, told the police: "I
am really sick at what I've done. I didn't plan it but I have been smoking
cannabis." He admitted rape.

The court heard that his victim needed tranquillisers and that her chances
of advancement in business had been affected.

Last month a Daily Mail survey showed a majority of 62 per cent against
legalising cannabis, while 80 per cent felt existing penalties for pushers
were not severe enough.