Jamie Steven Lagadu (19) appeared before the Royal Court via video link from prison yesterday following his arrest on 7 February when 572.39g of cannabis resin with a street value of up to £12,000 was found in his home by police officers. A total of £8,793 in cash was also seized.
In the defendant’s bedroom a set of brass knuckle-dusters, an air pistol BB gun, butterfly knife, nunchucks, Stanley knife, catapult and cannabis grinder were found.
During the search, the defendant arrived home through the back door with dirt on his hands and a phone was found buried in the garden. He admitted one count of possession with intent to supply.
Crown Advocate Chris Baglin, prosecuting, said a list of names and figures was discovered on the phone – thought to be a list of his customers and the amounts which they owed him.
He added that two of the names had £2,300 typed alongside them and messages showed he regularly threatened people for debts which they had accrued.
Another message also revealed the defendant had asked someone if they could ‘do a box for 5.5’. Advocate Baglin explained that it was thought a ‘box’ was street terminology for 1kg of cannabis and 5.5 meant £5,500.
Moving for a sentence of six months youth detention, he said: ‘He will continue to pose a risk to the community as long as he continues to be involved in using and selling drugs.’
But Advocate James Bell, defending, highlighted how his client had already spent 43 days remanded in prison – the equivalent sentence of two months and three days – and was remorseful.
‘He is aware today that he could receive further time in custody but I would urge the court to pay regard to how he has spent two months on remand already,’ he said.
‘In light of the circumstances, in particular his young age, I would submit that a community service order – as set out in the social inquiry report – would be the right sentence today.’
In delivering the court’s sentence, Commissioner William Bailhache, presiding, ordered Lagadu to complete 180 hours of community service and put him on probation for one year.
‘The correct sentence for this offence would be 12 months in custody.
‘But here, the defendant is aged 19 and we have to have regard to the law which says we should not sentence someone to youth detention unless there is not any other way of dealing with them.
In this case, we do think there is another way of dealing with him and we do not move for a custodial sentence,’ he said.
He added: ‘I wish to talk to you more directly now, Mr Lagadu.
‘You have committed some previous offences in the past but this is the first time you have been in the Royal Court and your advocate has probably told you that we treat drug cases – regardless of whether they are class A or B – very seriously and these do, very often, lead to lengthy custodial sentences.
‘The purpose of the legislation is to ensure that you learn from your mistake and do not do it again.’
Jurats Rozanne Thomas and Steven Austin-Vautier were also sitting.
