Three Swindon men have escaped a jail sentence after admitted dealing drugs.
Bikash Limbu, 18, John Natividad, 21, and Rabindra Gurung, 22, were found in possession of cannabis, cash and mobile phones that contained messages offering cannabis for sale.
Police officers had been tipped-off about suspected drug dealing activities in a garage area in the Parks area of Swindon on 21 February last year.
They found the defendants within a Volkswagon Polo and due to the reports made to the police, the officers carried out a drugs search of both the males and the vehicle.
Eleven small snap bags of cannabis, weighing around 1.7 grams each, were located alongside £270 in cash and mobile phones.
The phones were seized for forensic analysis, which proved the men were involved in the supply of cannabis and had sent advertising messages to buyers.
Solicitor Mark Glendenning defended the trio. He told the court each of the men – who had little access to money at the time – had a cannabis habit and were selling the drug to fund it.
He said they had bought cannabis in bulk before splitting it – smoking some of it and selling the rest to friends and others in their social circle.
“There was no major commercial enterprise”, Mr Glendenning added before confirming they are no longer addicted to cannabis.
Limbu, of Bentley Close, Park North, Swindon, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs between 12 May 2019 and 21 February 2020, and was sentenced to an 18-month community order. He must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work. Costs of £85 and a surcharge of £95 were also imposed.
Natividad, of Banwell Avenue, Park North, Swindon, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs between 15 October 2019 and 21 February 2020, and was sentenced to an 18-month community order. He must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work. Costs of £85 and a surcharge of £95 were also imposed.
Gurung, 22, of Thornbridge Avenue, Park South, Swindon, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs between 12 May 2019 and 21 February 2020, and was sentenced to an 18-month community order. He must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work. Costs of £85 and a surcharge of £95 were also imposed.
