A 64-YEAR-OLD man who had 1.6 kilos of cannabis resin he planned to sell has been jailed for 14 months.
The Royal Court heard that Michael Hodgson had seven previous convictions for drugs possession and one for possession with intent to supply, for which he was jailed in 2003.
Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, said: “The defendant has evidently not learnt from that.”
She said his latest offence was discovered on 13 June last year, when police carried out a search of Hodgson’s home in St Saviour.
They uncovered numerous bars of cannabis resin, a small quantity of herbal cannabis and £9,750 in cash. A set of weighing scales were also found.
Hodgson was not in the Island at the time, but the police arrested his wife at her workplace.
He arrived back on a flight from Birmingham three days later and was arrested at the Airport.
“He said the drugs and money belonged to him and not to his wife,” Crown Advocate Carvalho said. She added that drugs experts estimated the cannabis could have sold for between £32,000 and £48,000.
She added: “The quantity suggests that he was running a successful operation.
“He cannot be said to be of good character. He is at high risk of reoffending.”
Crown Advocate Carvalho recommended a 14-month prison sentence.
Advocate James Bell, defending, said Hodgson realised he faced the prospect of prison but suggested a community service order instead.
He pointed out that Hodgson had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, but there had been a long delay before the sentencing.
And Advocate Bell told the court: “He is genuinely remorseful. He can see how foolish he has been and he now wants to put things right.”
He added that Hodgson had been “self-medicating” with illegal cannabis for his physical and mental health but had acquired a legal prescription for medicinal cannabis.
But the Jurats agreed to the prosecution’s suggested 14-month custodial sentence.
Commissioner Sir Michael Birt told Hodgson: “It was a deliberate decision on your part to possess and supply cannabis.
“Given your previous convictions, the amount of drugs, the cash found and the scales, a two-year starting point could be considered lenient.”
Sir Michael was siting with Jurats Austin-Vautier and Le Heuzé as the Inferior Number of the Royal Court.
