MAN USED CANNABIS TO EASE STAMMER

A SUFFOLK electrician who used cannabis to ease his stammer has
been warned to kick the habit or face jail.

Police discovered "carrier bags" of cannabis at David Waine's home in
St Mary's Street, Bungay.

The 23-year-old was initially stopped by police on July 8 last year
and five cling film packages containing 16.6 grams of cannabis and
three paper wraps containing 2.52 grams of cocaine were discovered in
Waine's possession.

At his home a small amount of cannabis was found in a tobacco pouch
but 94.6 grams of the Class C drug was found in a carrier bag and 20.3
grams divided into six cling film packages were found in another.

Ian Pells, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court said Waine, who pleaded
guilty to possessing the drugs, told police he bought the cocaine off
a man at a Thetford party and had purchased a large quantity of
cannabis because it was cheaper to buy it in bulk.

Mr Pells said: "He said he bought a large amount of cannabis because
of the discounted price and it would last him months and months. He
takes cannabis to relax him and this helps him overcome his stammer.
He broke the cannabis down into small packages to monitor his own drug
use he said".

Judge Neil McKittrick told the newly qualified electrician his
punishment would be to do 100 hours unpaid work for the community and
pay UKP100 towards prosecution costs.

He said: "You seem to have a long ingrained cannabis habit and the
sooner you get out in the fresh air and do some work the better. I do
not think smoking all this cannabis stuff will help you relax and ease
your stammer. Get out of the habit of taking drugs because next time
it will be custody".

All the drugs were to be forfeited and destroyed.