Client receives Suspended Sentence for selling cannabis

Case study summary

Our client was unable to find work and started dealing drugs to support his young family. After an early guilty plea at the Magistrates' Court, our specialist lawyers drafted extensive mitigation and instructed a barrister to represent him, resulting in a suspended sentence.

Case study

Our client worked in construction until the local work was no longer available and, as a result, he began dealing drugs because he believed this was his best chance to make some quick money to support his young family. His home was later raided by police and he was arrested while driving his van. Further evidence of drug dealing was discovered inside the van and he was later charged with Possession with Intent to Supply Class B drugs.

We provided clear and thorough advice to our client regarding his legal options and he decided to plead guilty to the charges brought against him and take full advantage of the credit for a guilty plea.

Our client faced the prospect of a 12-month prison sentence, which would have prevented him from starting his new job and would have impacted on the wellbeing of his family. Our specialist lawyers were able to draft robust mitigation documents before the sentencing hearing and instruct a barrister to represent our client to put forward our arguments in court.

We argued that the long time spent waiting for his trial since his arrest, combined with his good character and the efforts he had made to change his life, meant he should not receive an immediate custodial sentence. We were able to persuade the court and they suspended our client's sentence.

Finally, after three years of waiting with the charges hanging over his head, our client was able to move on and start his new job, continuing to support his family and raise his children.