Shropshire Star

Oswestry drug dealer tried to get rid of cannabis from car

An Oswestry drug dealer who was caught drug-driving twice in a week has been given a suspended prison sentence.

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Louis Morris, 24, had been stopped twice by police in a week and on the second occasion in Coppice Road, Oswestry, officers saw him throw an ice cream tub out of the car over the roof and into a nearby garden.

As officers searched his Mini a message was also received on the defendant's mobile phone with a request to buy cannabis.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Morris was given a total of eight months in prison, suspended for a year.

Judge Peter Barrie said it was clear that Morris had been street-dealing, but recognised his efforts to get clear of drugs.

In addition to the suspended jail sentence, Morris was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme, carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £100 costs.

Morris, a trainee chef, of Rose Hill Drive, Oswestry, had admitted failing to provide a blood sample and being in possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Mr Hugh Williams, prosecuting, said that on July 5 when the defendant's discarded ice cream carton was recovered it contained 18 grammes of skunk cannabis worth around £180 and a set of scales. Officers recovered £130 in cash from Morris and the phone from behind the passenger seat.

Apart from the text message received at the time there was a list of buyers' names and amounts of between £30 and £230 and a reference to him being stopped a week earlier and that he could 'not go out on the streets'.

On the first occasion he was stopped Morris had again failed a roadside drugs test for which he was later banned by magistrates from driving for a year.

Mr Danny Smith, for Morris, said his client's addiction led him to get into debt with dealers.

He said he now realised the impact of drugs and was now clean and was putting his chaotic lifestyle behind him.

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