Cannabis user ‘hopes to turn his life around’

Christopher Terrence Langmead (27), of Rainey Court, admitted possessing 12 grams of the drug, valued between £120 and £140, on March 28, 2017.

The court heard that Langmead was jailed for three years and three months at Londonderry Crown Court on March 6 for other drug-related offences with half the sentence in custody and the other released on licence.

A defence barrister said the defendant, who appeared in court by video link from Maghaberry Prison, was not due to be released from custody until September 2020.

She explained Langmead was now 27 years of age and at the time of this offence he was 24 and a cannabis addict.

The lawyer said since entering custody the defendant has been engaging in programmes and attending classes to help him come off drugs.

She said he has not taken any drugs since going into custody and he hoped to continue this trend.

The lawyer said the defendant enjoyed a supportive relationship with his mother and intends to live with her when he is released from custody in September.

She stressed it was his aim to “turn his life around by stopping substance misuse and offending behaviour”.

Making an order for the destruction of the drug, District Judge Oonagh Mullan made the one month jail sentence consecutive with the prison sentence the defendant is currently serving.

She rejected an application by counsel for legal aid.