A man caught with cannabis while subject to a suspended prison sentence for dealing the drug was told by an incredulous judge: “You’re crazy, aren’t you?”
Kyle Glendinning, 26, was spared immediate jail time today after His Honour Michael Fanning had posed the question: “Should you take up a prison place which should be reserved for the worst offenders who commit the worst offences?”
Carlisle Crown Court had heard Glendinning received a 14-month custodial sentence — suspended for two years — in September, 2022.
He had admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply twice in just four months, a prosecutor telling magistrates there had been “active” dealing.
But at around 2-20pm on October 21 this year, police stopped a speeding and erratically driven Mercedes on the A595 near Bothel.
Passenger Glendinning, of Rashdall Road, Carlisle, confessed that some cannabis found under a seat was his.
Police hadn’t calculated a weight or valuation of the drug. A barrister representing Glendinning — who admitted simple possession of the class B drug — said the defendant had insisted it was 7g, bought for £120, and was for his own personal use.
Cannabis was also seized from others in the vehicle.
Glendinning, said the lawyer, recognised he was at risk of the suspended prison sentence being activated, but asked Judge Fanning to be lenient after outlining mitigation and personal circumstances.
The judge said he was required to following sentencing guidelines having assessed the most recent offence.
“You’re crazy, aren’t you?” Judge Fanning said to Glendinning as he handed down punishment. “You are on a suspended sentence for two years, 14 months of imprisonment for drugs offences, supplying cannabis; and here you are in a car with three other people and a fairly sizeable chunk of cannabis distributed throughout the vehicle.”
Taking everything into account, Judge Fanning imposed a 12-month community order comprising 80 hours’ unpaid work, having read an impressive probation service progress report and hearing that Glendinning had the chance of employment.
“You have got to get a grip of this,” the judge told him. “The problem is you cannot stop taking drugs so it is over to you.”
