Graham Harris, 56, claimed the drug was for his own use because prescription drugs did not help him.
But at an earlier hearing a jury had found him guilty of having it with intent to supply, as well as possession.
At Gloucester Crown Court yesterday, Judge William Hart said a sentence of five years would be normal in such a case but because of the circumstances he was able to reduce it to three years.At the earlier hearing, a jury found Harris, 56, of Severn Road, guilty of possessing 25.3g of cocaine with intent to supply.They acquitted him of possessing criminal property – £5,000 in cash.Harris admitted possession of cannabis and was given a concurrent one-month sentence for that offence.
Prosecutor Giles Nelson told the jury police raided Harris's home on July 13 last year and found cannabis, cocaine and the cash."This was a significant find of drugs," Mr Nelson said, adding the street value of the cocaine at the time was up to £1,265.Giving evidence, Harris told the jury he had started using cocaine after going through a "serious bad patch" in 2002 and had since used the drug to battle his depression.
"I tried to commit suicide by cutting my wrists," he said.
"I lost seven pints of blood and I'm lucky to be alive today, to be honest with you."
Questioned by his legal representative Jason Coulter, Harris said that in 2006 a friend had suggested he try cocaine to "bring (himself) through it".
"I tried it and it just lifted me," he told the jury.
When asked by Mr Coulter why he might have had such a large amount of the drug if it was not for supply, he replied: "It is so I don't have to worry about going into that fraternity of people for quite a while."
The cash was mostly in a safe inside the house but about £660 was found in a wallet hidden under a mattress in the master bedroom, the court was told.
With the cocaine police also found two replica handguns, a machete and a baseball bat.Harris said one of the handguns belonged to his son, the machete was used to cut willow and the baseball bat was for a game.
Before sentence was passed Susan Cavanagh, for Harris, said the cocaine found in the house was of only 20% purity and so was worth about £250 and not the £1,265 originally suggested.Judge Hart said although the amount of cocaine found suggested supply, he did not consider Harris a street dealer.A confiscation hearing will be held on December 16.
But at an earlier hearing a jury had found him guilty of having it with intent to supply, as well as possession.
At Gloucester Crown Court yesterday, Judge William Hart said a sentence of five years would be normal in such a case but because of the circumstances he was able to reduce it to three years.At the earlier hearing, a jury found Harris, 56, of Severn Road, guilty of possessing 25.3g of cocaine with intent to supply.They acquitted him of possessing criminal property – £5,000 in cash.Harris admitted possession of cannabis and was given a concurrent one-month sentence for that offence.
Prosecutor Giles Nelson told the jury police raided Harris's home on July 13 last year and found cannabis, cocaine and the cash."This was a significant find of drugs," Mr Nelson said, adding the street value of the cocaine at the time was up to £1,265.Giving evidence, Harris told the jury he had started using cocaine after going through a "serious bad patch" in 2002 and had since used the drug to battle his depression.
"I tried to commit suicide by cutting my wrists," he said.
"I lost seven pints of blood and I'm lucky to be alive today, to be honest with you."
Questioned by his legal representative Jason Coulter, Harris said that in 2006 a friend had suggested he try cocaine to "bring (himself) through it".
"I tried it and it just lifted me," he told the jury.
When asked by Mr Coulter why he might have had such a large amount of the drug if it was not for supply, he replied: "It is so I don't have to worry about going into that fraternity of people for quite a while."
The cash was mostly in a safe inside the house but about £660 was found in a wallet hidden under a mattress in the master bedroom, the court was told.
With the cocaine police also found two replica handguns, a machete and a baseball bat.Harris said one of the handguns belonged to his son, the machete was used to cut willow and the baseball bat was for a game.
Before sentence was passed Susan Cavanagh, for Harris, said the cocaine found in the house was of only 20% purity and so was worth about £250 and not the £1,265 originally suggested.Judge Hart said although the amount of cocaine found suggested supply, he did not consider Harris a street dealer.A confiscation hearing will be held on December 16.
Comments
Post a Comment