Former Plymouth soldier given drug rehab
A FORMER soldier found with amphetamine and cannabis was suffering from combat stress, a court heard.
Andrew Pope served in the Royal Artillery in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, Plymouth magistrates were told.
The 54-year-old, of Clowance Street, in Devonport, admitted two counts of possession of Class B drugs on May 22.
Gareth Warden, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police executed a drugs warrant at his home. He added they found 5.25 grams of amphetamine and 7.14 grams of cannabis, with each drug worth about £25.
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Mr Warden said Pope admitted to the police in interview that he had been a long-time user of both drugs. Graham Kinchin, for Pope, said it was six months since the offence and he had stopped using amphetamine. But he added that Pope still used cannabis occasionally.
Mr Kinchin said: "He has previously served in the Royal Artillery in Northern Ireland and the Falklands and he suffers from combat stress disorder. He is heading off for rehabilitation, which is being provided by a charity."
The court heard Pope was now on benefits. Magistrates gave him two six-month conditional discharges and ordered he pay £40 costs.
Comments
by SourAlienOG
Friday, November 16 2012, 8:57PM
“GreenGOM
Why the need to become rude? Or are you simply an ignorant commentator who hasnt got anything to say about the news story, so you have to attack someone and accuse them of being on drugs.”
by GreenGOM
Friday, November 16 2012, 6:26PM
“@souralienOG
Were you on drugs when you wrote that or is your sentence construction always that bad?”
by catdaddy1214
Friday, November 16 2012, 6:02PM
“This is news because?”
by SourAlienOG
Friday, November 16 2012, 5:40PM
“Im countries that legally regulate cannabis, people are prescribed it to reduce symptoms of PTSD. Cannabis is NOT illegal because it get people stoned. Its a medicine, all medicine has side effects. The side effects from using anti depressants is 1000 times worse than cannabis, yet thats legal? Makes no sense, just like throwing people in jail to 'save them from themselves' make so sense either.”