CANNABIS CAFE MAN REMANDED FOR TRIAL

A man who opened an Amsterdam-style coffee shop has been remanded in
custody after denying 10 drug-related charges.

Colin Davies, 44, of Romney Towers, Brinnington, Stockport, Greater
Manchester, pleaded not guilty to two counts of permitting cannabis to be
smoked in the cafe.

He also denied seven charges of possession of cannabis and one charge of
evading the prohibition of importation of cannabis.

The Dutch Experience Cafe in Stockport was opened in September last year -
Mr Davies was arrested and remanded in the hospital wing of Strangeways
Prison in November.

Trial date

Mr Davies, dressed in a T-shirt which read "I am already a prisoner of a
body that doesn't work", stood in the dock at Manchester's Minshull Street
Crown Court with four co-defendants.

Mr Davies and Andrew Young, 30, of Reddish Road, Stockport - charged with
five counts of possession of cannabis and one count of offering to supply
the drug - were remanded in custody.

Stephen Caveney, 47, of Rishworth Close, Offerton, Greater Manchester,
denied two counts of possession of cannabis, two counts of intent to supply
cannabis and one count of possession and intent to supply the drug.

Philip Rainford, 34, of Millgate, Market Place, Stockport, denied one count
of permitting cannabis to be smoked in the cafe and two counts of
possession of cannabis.

Robin Wright, 45, of Duncan Road, Longsight, Manchester, denied one count
of permitting cannabis to be smoked in the cafe and one count of possession
of cannabis.

All three were granted conditional bail. A trial date was set for 24 June.