A Kendal cannabis dealer facing sentence for supply crimes must wait four more days to learn his fate — after his lawyer was unable to attend court because of today’s M6 closure in South Cumbria.
Jakub Grochala, 20, was present at Carlisle Crown Court this morning.
He was due to receive his punishment for a total of four offences having been warned at a previous hearing that all sentencing options — including custody — were being considered.
At that hearing, Grochala had admitted supplying class B drug cannabis to another between June 1 and December 31 last year; and to the possession of criminal property — money — on New Year’s Eve.
During a previous court appearance, he had pleaded guilty to two other crimes. These were possessing cannabis with intent to supply, and the simple possession of the class A psychedelic substance, psilocin.
But attempts to conclude his case hit a snag as the attendance of Grochala’s barrister at court was delayed by a closure of the motorway’s northbound carriageway between junctions 35 and 36.
Judge Nicholas Barker said he had received both communication from the lawyer’s firm about the delay, and a request to instead attend over a video link.
But Judge Barker ruled the case should be adjourned for several days.
He concluded the offending to be serious, the sentencing exercise delicate and saying that Grochala should have an opportunity to speak with his counsel.
The judge said he had little alternative but to postpone the sentencing, despite Grochala, of Sepulchre Lane, Kendal, saying from the dock: “I want to get it done and over with.”
Judge Barker adjourned the hearing until Friday, and bailed Grochala in the meantime.
“That’s the best that we can do,” the judge said to the defendant, who appeared visibly distressed as he left court with a bag he had brought with him.
