John Alexander Hutcheson was sentenced to a 12-month probation order and 120 hours of community service.
The 42-year-old Grouville resident was told he was being given an ‘exceptional opportunity’ and that while the court accepted the drugs – cannabis, amphetamine, diazepam and ecstasy – were for personal use, that did not excuse his offences.
Crown Advocate Richard Pedley, prosecuting, told the court that Customs intercepted a suspicious package addressed to Hutcheson on 29 March of this year.
When analysed, they found that it contained 7g of herbal cannabis.
Six days later Customs officers attended Hutcheson’s home with a search warrant and he told the officers he knew they were there ‘because of the postal cannabis I ordered’. He then pointed out where to find the other drug stashes in the property.
Hutcheson told officers he was taking the cannabis and diazepam to relieve back pain and had arranged for the special postal delivery through a friend who had access to medical-grade cannabis.
The defendant, who admitted importation and possession of controlled drugs, told officers he used the amphetamine to control his weight and that he had dabbled with ecstasy but then lost interest in the drug.
While the drugs found were said to carry a street value of between £24,000 and £32,000, it was accepted that Hutcheson had no intent to supply the others with the narcotics.
Advocate Christina Hall, defending, said that the father-of-three had been unable to work since 2015, when he suffered a work-related accident.
She said he had been using the drugs to self-medicate, but was now sober and being properly medicated for depression.
He also co-operated fully with the police and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, the court heard. Advocate Hall said Hutcheson was well regarded and cared for his youngest child while the child’s mother worked.
The court also heard that he is awaiting an operation that will hopefully allow him to return to work. Hutcheson’s former employer said he would employ him again.
Deputy Bailiff Tim le Cocq said the sentence was ‘anxiously considered’ and that the court did not condone self-medication.
‘You’re being given an excellent opportunity to address the challenges you face,’ he said.
The court ordered the drugs to be destroyed.
Jurats Rozanne Thomas and Jane Ronge were sitting.
