A man who was supplying cannabis 'Wonka bars' was today (Tuesday) ordered to serve three years on probation.
Steven Hall, 35 and of Shiels Street in West Belfast, also had to forfeit £6,725 in cash which will now benefit the charity Addict NI.
Hall pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, along with diazepam and Pregabalin tablets. He also admitted to possessing criminal property.
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Belfast Crown Court heard that police searched Hall's apartment in March 2020 and seized a quantity of tablets in a plastic bag, a box of Pregabalin, a quantity of herbal cannabis and two strips of diazepam.
Prosecution barrister Kate McKay said police also searched a communal hallway and found £6,725 hidden inside a recycling box and the notes were later forensically linked to Hall.
Hall's phone was seized which revealed lists of people he was supplying drugs to along with a number of pictures: one was of three vacuum-packed bags of cannabis and another was of a sofa which showed a quantity of Dublin-sourced 'Wonka bars' made up of chocolate and cannabis.
Mrs McKay said it was evident Hall was running a "criminal enterprise'' and was supplying drugs to more than just his friends.
Judge Philip Gilpin was told Hall had 19 previous convictions on his criminal record, ten of which were for drug offences.
Defence solicitor Paul Farrell said Hall had previously received an 18-month probation order for possession of drugs which had benefited the defendant in dealing with his drug and gambling addictions.
"He lives at home presently with his mother and she keeps a tight choke chain on him,'' Mr Farrell told the court.
"Perhaps the court could consider a non-custodial disposal which would benefit the defendant in dealing with his issues.
"He understands that the consequences of breaching a probation order would be a one-way bus to Maghaberry (prison).''
Judge Gilpin said the custodial threshold had been passed as drug dealing is a "serious offence'' and if Hall had been found guilty after a contested trial he would have imposed a three year prison sentence.
He added that he was prepared to take an "exceptional course'' in not imposing an immediate custodial sentence and would deal with Hall by way of a probation order in an effort to deal with his addiction and health issues.
Judge Gilpin told the defendant: "You have been given an opportunity now so take it. Make sure you don't find yourself before this court again.''
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