The police found the drugs in the home of 59-year-old Michael Joseph Fannon when they searched the property in Savile Street on 13 December.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that a small amount of cannabis weighing 9g was found in his pocket. Fannon then made admissions to having seven bars of the drug in a laundry basket. A further lump was found in a drawer and a relatively small amount was discovered in a cigarette.
Police legal adviser Advocate Darry Robinson said that the police valued the seven bars of the class B drug at somewhere between £10,200 and £13,200. During a police interview the defendant said that this was the first time he had purchased such a large amount but accepted that he supplied the drug to others.
The legal adviser said that Fannon had a previous record for possession with intent to supply. His last offence was dealt with by the Royal Court in March 2005, when he was sent to prison for five years and six months.
Advocate Jane Grace, defending, said Fannon got the drugs partly for his own use but said he was prepared to sell some of them. She said that Fannon was co-operative with officers and had pointed out where the rest of the drugs were hidden. She also said the supply charge was brought solely as a result of his admissions.
The lawyer said that Fannon, who admitted possession with intent to supply, hoped to have received about £8,000 for the drugs he would have sold but the court heard that the money would not have been profit, as he had to repay his supplier.
Advocate Grace said that her client expected to be able to fund his own habit but the Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, said he also expected to make a profit. The defence lawyer submitted that her client had learnt his lesson and had not used cannabis for some time. She also said that he was a hard-working individual who should be given the chance to continue to make a contribution to society.
In sentencing, Mrs Shaw said it was not clear how much of the drug the defendant had supplied and over what period. ‘Bearing in mind there is a serious record, and the very large amount of cannabis that you had, I don’t think community service is appropriate,’ she said.
Mrs Shaw also made an order for the destruction of the drugs.
