Suspended prison sentence for Newtownabbey man who admitted selling drugs
A Newtownabbey man has been given a suspended prison sentence by a Lisburn judge after pleading guilty to drugs offences.
Christopher Arthurs, aged 32, whose address was given as Ballyduff Road, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with possession of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, and being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug, namely cannabis.
The court heard that on May 21, 2024, police were investigating a suspicious death at Wardsborough Road in Lisburn. As part of the investigation CCTV footage was viewed which showed occupants of a flat get into a car and leave the area.
Further inquiries confirmed the car in question was a rental car rented by the defendant.
A search of his property was carried out and a quantity of herbal cannabis was found.
The defendant was arrested and made admission to possession of the drugs.
He also indicated that he had used the app Telegram and saw a male was wanting to buy cannabis. The defendant then travelled to Lisburn and sold the male £50 of cannabis.
He told police this was his first time doing this because he was short of money.
A defence lawyer told the court: “He went to the app to buy drugs himself and then thought he could sell some himself.”
District Judge Rosie Watters commented: “Cannabis will not kill anybody but it is very bad for you. It causes poor mental health.
"I hope you have learnt a lesson,” she warned the defendant.
Ms Watters sentenced the defendant to two months in prison on each of the charges, which she suspended for two years.