Another chance for couple with cannabis

Friday 18 September 2020

A young couple, who were given suspended sentences in the Royal Court last month for supplying cannabis, have been given another chance to prove themselves after appearing in the Magistrate's Court for possession of the Class B drug.

Shane Topley, 24, and Abbie Saunders, 18, narrowly avoided going to prison in August, when they were found guilty of dealing cannabis resin.

They were both given lengthy suspended sentences on that occasion and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.

However, whilst on police bail for the supplying offence, the pair were charged again with possession of cannabis resin.

Police officers carried out a search of their property on 22 November last year, while both defendants were home. The Prosecution told the Magistrate's Court that 14.78g of resin was found, leading to the couple being arrested.

Pictured: The prosecution said that cannabis resin was found in the couple's "joint living space".

They were taken to the police station, where Saunders became irate. Officers tried to calm her but the prosecution said she actively resisted, lashing out with a closed fist and kicking the officers.

She was charged with resisting arrest, to which she pleaded guilty.

No mitigation was given by either defendant's advocate, with Judge Graeme McKerrell pre-empting their submissions by saying he wasn't planning on sending them to prison.

Topley was sentenced to a two month prison sentence, suspended for two years, while Saunders was sentenced to three months, also suspended for two years.