A CARLISLE cannabis dealer whose supply crime emerged after police arrested him for a city burglary has been sentenced.
Leighton John Lewis had been detained on suspicion of burgling a Petteril Street property with another man on October 31 last year by officers who had noted the pair’s vehicle had number plates covered.
When 26-year-old Lewis’s home was then searched, police recovered a “drug dealer’s kit”. This comprised cannabis potentially worth around £200, a 16-page debtors’ list and a mobile phone which suggested Lewis was involved in supplying skunk cannabis at street level. A “text bomb” of messages had been sent to 37 people advertising the drug for sale.
Lewis, of Lediard Avenue, Currock, was jailed by a judge in February for the October burglary, which he revealed was committed with the intention of stealing a large cannabis stash he believed was inside the address.
But despite his drug-dealing crime being uncovered on the same day, an “unforgivable” prosecution delay meant Lewis was not brought to court to face the music for that matter for a further seven months. He later admitted the possession of class B cannabis with intent to supply, and has finally been sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.
Judge James Adkin heard Lewis was now drug-free, making excellent progress with rehabilitation and showing a good level of engagement with the probation service.
Concluding there would have been little difference to Lewis’s original prison sentence had the burglary and cannabis supply offences been dealt with together, Judge Adkin imposed a community order comprising 100 hours’ unpaid work.
