THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL!
The youths, who are from the Bangor area, were planning to sell drugs at Glass Butter Beach but were stopped by police near Pwllheli
Two teenagers caught with drugs they intended to sell at a Gwynedd music festival have avoided detention.
The youths, who are aged 17 and 16 and from the Bangor area, admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis between January 1 and August 20, after they were caught on the way to Glass Butter Beach in Abersoch in the summer.
Sentence had been adjourned for the preparation of reports at Caernarfon Youth Court.
The younger youth also admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing MDMA (ecstasy) tablets with intent to supply. Both are controlled drugs of class A.
He also admitted possessing a Class C drug with intent to supply.
Bench chairman Alwyn Lloyd Ellis told the youths, who cannot be named because of their age, that they were “very, very close” to being sent to custody.
“You thought it was an easy way to make money, that no one would suffer and life would go on,” he said.
“That’s not correct. You’ve suffered, your families have suffered and society has suffered.
“It’s very clear you regret what you’ve done and we have had a very difficult decision to make.
“But, because of some positive aspects outlined in the report, we are not sending you to custody, but you’re very, very lucky.
“Courts do not hesitate sending people into custody and you were very, very close.”
Handing them a 12-month referral order, he warned both that any breach of the order could result in them appearing before court again.
“If you do appear, we’ll send you to detention,” he said.
“This is your one chance. Grab it with both hands.”
A panel will now decide the level of their punishment, which could include unpaid community work or a nightly curfew, and what courses organised by the Youth Justice Board they must attend.
Mel Hughes, prosecuting, said both were back seat passengers in a car stopped by police near Pwllheli last August.
“One handed police a plastic box which contained cannabis, a grinder and some scales,” he said.
“The other said there were more drugs in the boot and a glass jar was found wrapped in a tent.
“Officers were told by the younger youth he was carrying the drugs for someone who was paying him to do so.”
Searches of the boys’ homes led to the seizure of mobile phones, which revealed messages had been exchanged between them and others offering drugs for sale between January 1 and August 20 last year.
The value of the drugs found amounted to more than £1,000.
“Both were interviewed and admitted the possession of the cannabis, and they had intended to sell the drugs at the Glass Butter Beach festival site,” said Mr Hughes.
One youth told officers he planned to sell the drugs to help clear a £1,000 drugs debt.
Neither boy, who were accompanied in court by their parents, had any previous convictions, reprimands or cautions, their solicitors said.
Both argued a detention order would have a negative effect on the youths, who were extremely remorseful.
Glyn Roberts, on behalf of the older youth, said he felt relieved to have been caught as it broke the cycle of offending.
Bethan Williams, for the other youth, said he had been under pressure to sell drugs.
The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, the paraphernalia and the mobile phones.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/teens-caught-drugs-way-gwynedd-12541257
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