A small time drugs dealer risked a jail sentence f

A small time drugs dealer risked a jail sentence for a
meagre pnds stlng 50, a court heard.

Money problems were said to have driven Richard Walker
into the shady world of selling drugs.

Southwark Crown Court heard that the 21-year-old was
arrested at Whitechapel Tube Station trying to sell cannabis.

The unemployed labourer, currently fighting his former
employers for unfair dismissal, admitted possessing 15.

4 grammes
of the drug.

It was claimed he bought the cannabis for pnds stlng 100
and hoped to sell 15 one gramme packets for ten pnds stlng each.

Walker, of Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, was said
to have taken a ‘stupid’ risk for such a small profit but was
desperate for money and was being chased by a loan shark.

Placing him on probation for 18-months and ordering he
pay pnds stlng 100 towards costs, Judge Mota Singh, QC, said the
courts take a dim view of drug peddlars.

‘Although the offence is a serious one and one that would
normally mean a prison sentence, in the light of what has been
said I will put you on probation.

‘
The judge commented it was lucky Walker had been caught
otherwise ‘he would have continued’ the illicit trade.

Mr Simeon Hopkins, prosecuting, said police officers had
been approached in Whitechapel Road by a youth who ‘said he
suspected a young man was selling drugs in the underground station.

‘
Officers observed an exchange between Walker and another
man who ran off and was never caught.

On arrest Walker was found to have concealed a ‘fist-sized’
bag of cannabis up his sleeve.

Asked what the substance was he said: ‘It’s draw, personal
use.

‘
Later he admitted the drug, divided into 15 bags, was to be
sold.

Miss Maureen O’Connor, for Walker, said the offence was
committed for money but all he would have achieved if he had
successfully sold the packets of drugs was pnds stlng 50.

‘He would be the first to say it was a very stupid risk to
take for such a small amount of money.

‘
She claimed Walker intended to sell cannabis only to people
he knew.

‘It is a commercial offence at the lowest end of the scale.

‘
Miss O’Connor said Walker had considerable financial
difficulties ‘he owes money to a loan shark’ and his pregnant
girlfriend was about to have a child.

She appealed to the judge to allow Walker his freedom to
pursue his case at an industrial tribunal and find work.

Walker admitted possessing a class B drug with intent to
supply on April 2 this year.

ends