Given suspended prison terms for drug offences

Johnathan Hall, whose address was given as Queen’s Place, Lurgan, admitted unlawful possession of a class B drug, namely herbal cannabis, and a class C drug, Diazepam, on July 12 of last year.

For each offence he was sentenced to three months in custody, suspended for two years.

The case had been adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained but Hall failed to attend and no report was available.

A barrister representing the defendant said he had been the victim of three assaults, one of them the day before last Friday’s court.

There were marks visible around one of Hall’s eyes and on his head when he appeared in court.

The court heard that because he suffered from depression and anxiety he could not go out of his house.

A public prosecutor, outlining the facts of the case, said police saw the defendant at an address in Flush Place, Lurgan

He was stopped and searched and a small bag of herbal cannabis worth about £15 to £20 and 50 Diazepam tablets, worth £50, were found in his possession.

Hall said the cannabis was for his own personal use and he took it to relax.

He said Diazepam was prescribed by his doctor but he had not got these tablets from his doctor.