Bail refused in heroin case

A Portadown man accused of possessing and supplying heroin in the town was again refused bail last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

Floyd Hobson (29), The Glebe, Portadown, appeared in court by way of videolink from Maghaberry prison.

He faces eight charges of unlawful possession of a class A drug, heroin, on dates in November and December last year and January this year, and eight counts of supplying the drug.

Opposing bail a detective constable said that after an undercover police operation into the supply of heroin Hobson was arrested on February 29.

He objected to bail because of the risk of re-offending and added that the alleged offences had been committed while he was on bail and was the subject of a suspended sentence.

The officer said police did not believe Hobson would abide by any bail conditions.

He explained that the defendant had been refused bail at the magistrates’ court and the High Court and compassionate bail had been refused at the High Court.

A barrister representing Hobson said he had no previous convictions of a similar type and asked the officer if he accepted that his client was at the lower end of this operation.

The officer alleged Hobson was part of an organised crime gang but he could not comment on his position in the gang.

The barrister said the change in circumstances in the case was the delay. They had been told on previous occasions that a decision was imminent.

He added that there was a bail address available with Hobson’s mother who suffers from a disability and would benefit from the assistance of her son. She would be willing to provide a surety.

The barrister explained that a close friend of the defendant committed suicide and Hobson started using drugs. He was now learning a very painful lesson.

But, he added, his client had passed four drugs test in prison.

He said that Hobson ran up a drug debt of in the region of £5,000 or £6,000 in relation to a cocaine habit.

District Judge, Mr Peter King, said he was not satisfied there was a change of circumstances.

He remanded Hobson in custody to appear again by videolink on September 30.

Related topics: