A DRUG addict’s daily use of cannabis and ecstasy could have been fatal for many people, a court heard.
Judge Stephen Climie issued the warning as he spared Hani Hussein an immediate prison term for charges of possessing the class A and class B drugs.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that when officers executed a warrant on Hussein’s address in April 2018 they found 421 grams of cannabis and 61 MDMA tablets.
Hussein, 24 and of Exeter Park Road, said the drugs were for personal use.
The defendant, who is now in recovery from his addiction, was initially charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply and he appeared at magistrates’ court in March last year. However, alternative counts were later added to the indictment and guilty pleas to simple possession charges were acceptable to the crown.
This was after a report conducted by a psychiatric medical professional supported Hussein’s claims that the drugs were for personal use.
Prosecuting, Sam Barker told the hearing on June 2: “The defendant said that he smoked something like half an ounce of cannabis daily and would regularly take MDMA tablets not knowing that MDMA was ecstasy.”
Mr Barker said the quantities of drugs for personal use “raised eyebrows” but the defendant’s explanation could not be disproved by the crown.
Mitigating, Tony Wyatt described it as “a huge quantity of drugs for one person to be taking”, adding that at the time the defendant was also taking other illicit substances.
Mr Wyatt said there was no excuse for Hussein to be self-medicating his issues with the drugs, but “it does fully explain his conduct”.
The defendant is completely off ecstasy and is now concentrating on being free from cannabis, the barrister said.
Judge Stephen Climie handed down a two-year community order with a requirement to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, along with an order to pay £200 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.
The judge said: “Back in 2018 you were using both Class A drug ecstasy and class B drug cannabis at levels which for many people could prove fatal.”
He added: “You are making great progress and I want to make sure it carries on.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel