A drug dealer could have walked free but he let a judge know he would refuse to do community service.
Reece Corran, 20, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (November 14). A "low level" dealer, Corran had pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cannabis with intent to supply that took place in 2021.
The dealer had the chance to walk free, with his lawyer making the case for a jail sentence to be suspended. However, Corran objected to the idea of performing community service and working with probation services, leaving the judge with no choice but to jail him.
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Prosecuting, Dave Watson told the court that, on June 16, 2021, Corran was stopped in the L13 area by police on uniform duty, who witnessed what they believed was a drug deal taking place. When stopped, Corran told officers he had four bags of cannabis on his person and he was duly arrested.
Another male was also arrested and police later found on his phone a text advertising cannabis for sale, which had been sent by Corran.
Corran's home on Wapshare Road, Norris Green, was then searched by officers, who found 18.54g of cannabis in 17 wraps - as well as snap bags and weighing scales. Corran claimed the recovered cannabis was for his personal use.
He was released under investigation. However, Corran had another run in with police on August 19, 2021.
Corran was cycling on Wernbrook Road in Anfield when police saw him, said to be looking nervous and suspicious. Officers attempted to stop him but he made an attempt to evade both on foot and on his bike.
Police officers said his phone was constantly ringing as he ran away from them. He was eventually stopped and officers found cannabis resin in his pocket, as well as £220 on his person.
His home was searched and police found 15 bags of cannabis. Again, in interview he claimed this was for personal use.
In mitigation, Peter White said his client was "a young gentleman diagnosed with autism" and that he sometimes has issues with communication. He told the court that Corran was involved in "low level" cannabis supply and smoked the drug himself.
He said Corran accepted his behaviour was wrong and described him as a "very intelligent young man" with the "potential to do a lot of good." Mr White then made the case for his client's jail sentence to be suspended.
The lawyer discussed what that would entail, including unpaid work and sessions with probation services. However, Corran shook his head in the dock.
Judge Gary Woodhall noticed this, saying that Corran had "indicated to the court that it's (a suspended sentence) not going to be workable".
Passing sentence, Judge Woodhall told Corran he had lied to the police twice, both times stating the cannabis was for personal use. The judge said the defendant had "presented as guarded throughout", that he lacked maturity and did not believe he required support.
He said Corran, who has autism and ADHD, began dealing cannabis after he became addicted to it and dealt "purely for financial gain". However, Judge Woodhall gave Corran credit for his guilty pleas, though he did initially plead not guilty for the August offences. About those offences, the judge said: "This was similar offending that continued despite police intervention".
Judge Woodhall told Corran he could have suspended the sentence, but the defendant indicated he was not willing to adhere to its conditions or work with probation services. The judge said: "I cannot find a realistic prospect of rehabilitation" and said Corran posed a high risk of reoffending.
The judge said the immediate custodial sentence was a result of Corran's "stance and attitude to conditions I could pass", adding: "but you have told me in advance you cannot comply". He was jailed for ten months. and the seized £220 will be donated to charity.
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