South Derry teenager who was 'partying a lot' given suspended jail term for drug offences
A South Derry teenager who was “partying a lot” when he was caught with drugs at his home, was handed a two-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, when he appeared at Magherafelt Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Nineteen-year-old Callum Hughes from Sunnyside Drive, Maghera, had previously admitted charges of possessing cocaine, cannabis and diazepam, and the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
District Judge Conor Heaney said he would sentence Heaney after being told he had been unable to attend appointments with the Probation Service because he had tonsillitis.
Counsel prosecuting said on June 23 last, police executed a search warrant under the misuse of drugs act at the home of the defendant and found a number of items.
He said Hughes, who wasn’t at home, was interviewed by police on July 7 and made a full admission to possessing the drugs which he said were for personal use.
Counsel said forensic examination of the items showed there was 85 kilograms of cannabis, 0.45 grams of cocaine, and 20 diazepam tablets.
A defence lawyer stressed that Hughes had pleaded guilty at an early stage.
She said he is now free of drugs and the offences took place at a time of his life when he was partying a lot.
The lawyer said he has now disengaged from negative peers and pleaded with the court to take into account his relative youth.
District Judge Heaney said given the absence of a pre-sentence report he would “not go down the scale” in relation to sentencing.
He remarked that the defendant is a young man who appeared to be out of control at the time.