16 November 2006

What's the point?

The BBC reports:
A pensioner has been jailed for a year after he was caught growing a crop of cannabis potentially worth £50,000.
Derek Wormald, 70, of Easterton Farm Cottage, Glenluce, admitted producing the drug at his home between September last year and February this year.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard the judge had considered an alternative sentence to avoid imprisonment.
However, Lord Wheatley decided that because of the serious nature of the offence he had to give a jail term...
The cannabis was growing in three rooms, with 15 plants near maturity in one, a second batch of 12 plants were in another and 75 very small plants were in a "nursery room".

Wow, a real Mr Big on the drugs scene! Glenluce, the pot capital of Dumfries and Galloway!

I appreciate that the judge operates under sentencing guidelines; and I am not familiar with all the case details. But 15 cannabis plants? I find it difficult to see any benefit to the public in incarcerating this individual (who incidentally has no criminal record). Would community service not have fulfilled the requirements of justice, while imposing less of a cost on the public purse?

And they wonder why the prisons are full...

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