A judge told a Hengrove teenager found with Class A drugs not to break his mum's heart. And he handed Romaine Mullings a chance to do so by staying out of knife crime.
Mullings appeared before Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply as well as having a knife. In November last year Judge James Patrick deferred sentence for Mullings to prove he could stay out of trouble.
Today, the 19-year-old, of The Boulevard, was back in court. And the court heard he had done what was asked of him.
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Judge Patrick handed him a two-year community order. He also ordered that he carry out 60 hours' unpaid work, do up to 35 days' rehabilitation, be on an electronic tag and stay out of Fishponds.
Police found Mullings with a blade in Airport Road, Bristol, in October last year. Ehsanul Oarith, prosecuting, said they found he had 24 wraps of heroin and 36 wraps of crack cocaine.
The judge made it crystal clear to Mullings of the dangers of knife crime. He advised him to keep staying out of trouble or face jail.
Judge Patrick told him: "I remember being your age. It was a very, very long time ago. In the blink of an eye you'll be my age. At least I hope you will.
"In my experience people who deal with knives often have their lives ruined. I remember prosecuting someone who killed somebody with a knife. I remember dealing with people who were the victims of knife crime. I've sent people to prison because they had a knife."
The judge said he was impressed by Mullings' behaviour since November. He said he did not want him to mess up and urged Mullings not to put him in a position to have to send him to prison.
The judge added: "Your mother is in the public gallery, it must break her heart to be here. Don't break her heart again. I'm taking a chance with you because of everything you have done and everything I know about you. But this is your last chance."
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