Mother reported son to the police for drug possession

The Magistrates Court Picture: ROB CURRIE. (35982183)

AN 18-YEAR-OLD who was caught with class A and B drugs, which he used ‘to escape reality’, has been sentenced to community service.

Jason Mendes appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing five charges of possessing drugs, including cocaine and ketamine.

On one occasion, Mendes was reported to the police by his mother after she spotted him putting a packet of white powder in his car.

Outlining the offences, Advocate Adam Harrison, prosecuting, told the court that the police had initially attended Mendes’ home in October last year to arrest him for malicious damage.

But when they carried out a search, they found him in possession of the class A drug cocaine, as well as a further six bags in his bedroom.

Mendes was also found with just under seven grams of class B drug ketamine and 15 paper tablets of class A drug LSD.

In January this year, Mendes was again arrested and found in possession of ketamine and cannabis after his mother phoned the police.

Advocate Harrison said: ‘He was using ketamine to escape from reality. Cannabis was used to help him sleep. He was anxious and suffered from depression, which probably did not help.’

The court heard that Mendes does not have any previous drug-related offences.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said that his client no longer used drugs, and added: ‘Despite being 17 at the time, he’s now 18 and the full weight of the court can be executed.

‘Mr Mendes said to me that he is a very different person now. He said that what happened to him was a blessing in disguise.’

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris sentenced Mendes to 130 hours of community service.

He said that Mendes’ age and early guilty plea were mitigating factors when deciding the sentence.

Announcing the sentence, he said: ‘There has been talk of wanting to escape from reality. The reality is these are all illegal drugs.

‘I hope Advocate Baglin is right that you are now a more mature person.’

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