Drug dealer is unwittingly shopped (From Craven Herald)

Drug dealer is unwittingly shopped

8:17am Thursday 29th April 2004

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Police caught a drug dealer in Harpenden after he accidently locked himself out of his home.

Neighbours spotted him trying to get back in through a downstairs window but, thinking he was a burglar, called police.

When they got to the property in Yardley Court, Milton Road, 21-year-old Luke Evison told them he was the tenant.

But when officers went inside with him they smelt cannabis and found thousands of pounds' worth of the drug, St Albans Crown Court was told.

They also found scales, knives, cutters, a chopping board and plastic bags, the court heard on Friday.

Prosecutor Antoinette Mackeson said that when police arrived at the flat on July 4 they found Evison who confirmed he was the tenant. When they went inside with him they could smell cannabis. Evison was questioned and produced a bag of herbal cannabis but more of the drug was found.

In total 839 grammes were recovered. It had cost between £1,252 and £1,500 to buy and had a retail value of between £2,350 and £3,525.

Evison, now of Meadow Close, London Colney, appeared at the court for sentence having pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Defence barrister Charles Judge said the offence came at an unhappy time in Evison's life following the death of his mother and the end of a relationship.

He said he had only been providing the drug to friends on a small scale.

"He made a small amount of money to get himself out of financial difficulties," said Mr Judge.

Recorder Simon Brown QC told Evison: "Supply is a serious offence."

But he said he had shown remorse and that nothing could be gained by sending him to prison.

Evison was ordered to complete 60 hours community punishment and 12 months community rehabilitation. He was also ordered to pay a £250 fine.

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