AN EX-HEROIN addict who was found with around £800 worth of cannabis has escaped jail.
Jamie Paul Knapton, of Talbot Road, was convicted of possession with intent to supply the class B drug after police raided his home on August 1, last year and found 140.5grams of marijuana.
The 35-year-old pleaded guilty at Redditch Magistrates’ Court on Monday (January 26).
The court heard police carried out a warrant on the father-of-three’s address, where he lives with his partner and children. There, they found scales, a quantity of cash and some people’s phone numbers.
Prosecuting, Marcus Kraehling-Smith said Knapton admitted four of the five bags found were for his own personal use while the other one belonged to his friend.
He added Knapton had a heavy habit and had claimed he bought 5oz for £850 every six weeks which was funded through benefits, each time he would also sell two of those ounces to his friend.
The court heard although he had claimed he made no financial gain he did to some extent because he bought the drugs in bulk got them at a discounted rate.
Defending Mr Harrison said the problems which had led to Knapton committing the offence went back a number of years to his childhood, when his father died.
He added Knapton used to work as a labourer but unfortunately had a heroin addiction.
The court heard Knapton separated from his partner when his son was four which is when Children’s Services became involved.
And, he was given an ultimatum to get clean within six months or he could not look after his son – Knapton has been clean of heroin ever since.
Mr Harrison said it was not until 12 to 18 months after that Knapton began to suffer from anxiety and depression.
The court heard he would drink large amounts of water to force himself to be sick and this would make the feeling go away for a short time – in 2011 he was submitted to hospital on 22 occasions.
Mr Harrison said when Knapton lost his father he began to smoke cannabis, which progressed to harder drugs.
And, when he stopped taking drugs all the unresolved issues he had not dealt with began to come back.
The court heard Knapton had cut down on the amount he smoked from £100 a week to £30 and sees a psychiatrist every three months.
Chair of the bench Sue Birch said: “We do feel the custody threshold has been passed but we are intending to make it a suspended sentence order of five months for 24 months.
“We have suspended the order because of your current medical issues and mental health issues.”
Knapton was also told to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £125 in costs.
