A man found in possession of a large quantity of cannabis has been fined after the court heard that he was turning his life around.
James Wilkinson appeared before district judge Joanna Dickens this morning after being remanded in custody at Gablecross overnight.
During a raid on his property in 2019, police officers found two latex gloves stuffed full of the class B drug – amounting to 81 grams.
Despite the large amount of drugs located during the warrant, the Crown Prosecution Service said no evidence of drug dealing was found.
The 40-year-old, of Thornford Drive, Swindon, admitted possession of cannabis.
Defending Wilkinson, his solicitor said he was in receipt of around £300 benefits and doing “jolly well” on a methadone prescription through Turning Point to battle his heroin addiction. He requested a financial penalty for his crime.
District judge Dickens said he “clearly had money to buy that cannabis”, but taking into account his guilty plea, she fined him £100, with a victim surcharge of £32 and no costs. Time served remanded in custody was to be taken as his punishment.