Man fined after he was caught with 'bedtime cannabis' (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Adam Henwood was caught while serving suspended sentence

3:00pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in News By Chris Gregory

A MAN was caught with his “bedtime cannabis” while serving a suspended sentence.

Adam Henwood, of West Ham Close, Basingstoke, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

Fiona McMurray, prosecuting, said police officers pulled over the 18-year-old when he was driving in Worting Road, Basingstoke, on October 2 this year.

She said: “They spotted a small bag of herbal cannabis on the passenger seat. In interview, he accepted that the drug was illegal and said he was going to smoke it before going to bed.”

The court heard that at the time of the offence, Henwood was subject to an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for affray, that he received at Winchester Crown Court.

The offence had been committed during a fight outside The Buckskin pub, in Blackdown Close, Buckskin, that took place on September 30 last year.

Representing himself, Henwood said: “I have been on a tag for nearly five months and I have not breached anything. I only smoke cannabis occasionally.”

Presiding magistrate Susannah Rice opted not to send Henwood to Winchester Crown Court to be dealt with for his breach of suspended sentence.

Instead, she fined him £200, with a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

She said: “You are very lucky because you could have been sent straight to the crown court.”