WHAT’S IN YOUR CAB?


COLWYN BAY MAN WHO PASSED OUT IN TAXI HAD MORE THAN HALF A KILO OF CANNABIS IN BAG


A man who passed out in the back of a taxi was found with more than half a kilo of cannabis and over £1,000 in cash in a bag. Police and paramedics were called after Lee Ainsworth, 30, became unresponsive. Medics found he was not having a medical episode but was intoxicated. The bag was found, and he was arrested before admitting possession with intent to supply cannabis. On Wednesday 6 December, a judge heard he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but is being treated and is turning his life around. He said he could be rehabilitated and gave him a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. Prosecutor Oliver King told Mold Crown Court taxi driver Peter James had gone to pick up the defendant from an address in Colwyn Bay on October 25 last year at 9.15am.


When he arrived he found Ainsworth in the garden smoking


a cigarette. He smelt cannabis and was “chatting quite normally”. Ainsworth got into the taxi with a black rucksack but said he didn’t feel well. He asked to go to Rhos- on-Sea but changed his mind and asked for Llandudno Junction. “He appeared to fall asleep and there was no drop off point,” said Mr King. The taxi driver pulled over but couldn’t rouse Ainsworth who was completely unresponsive, the court heard. Mr King said: “He was sufficiently concerned to call an ambulance and a first aider from Boots came out to assist.” An ambulance duly arrived and paramedic Dafydd Williams also found the passenger to


be


unresponsive but he then became agitated and kicked and lashed out.


Mr Williams asked for police to attend. It was established it wasn’t a medical emergency


and


Ainsworth was probably intoxicated. He was put onto a trolley to get him into an


STOKE-ON-TRENT MEN CAUGHT WITH CLASS A DRUGS IN CAB


Cheshire Police have charged two Stoke-on-Trent men with Class A drug offences and possession of criminal property, following a stop check near Crewe. On 13 December, officers stopped a taxi near to the Junction 16 of the M6 (Crewe Barthomley). At around 6.30pm, two passengers were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences. Both men have


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since been charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) and possession of criminal property. Saeed Malik, 35, of Middleport, and Tahir Darr, 29, of Burslem, were both remanded in custody. The pair appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 15 December.


ambulance.


But when the paramedic looked into his black rucksack for any identification he saw a large amount of what appeared to be cannabis and handed the bag to a police officer, PC Tom Williams. The police found 631.74 grams of cannabis and £1,041.02 in cash. The defendant was arrested and handcuffed but became aggressive.


He said he had bought the cannabis in bulk over a long period and the cash was payment for work for a friend. But he would not provide the friend’s name. Matthew Dunford, defending, said his client had struggled with his mental health, drugs and alcohol. He had been released from custody and was self-medicating when the offence took place. He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but is receiving treatment. He has moved to County Down in Northern Ireland where his mother lives and has joined a barber’s club and a church.


The judge His Honour Niclas Parry told the defendant: “A lot of drugs, a lot of money, a lot of potential harm.” But he added: “It’s not an exaggeration to say I can find you have transformed your life...with the support of your local community. “There’s a realistic prospect of you being rehabilitated. I believe you are on the way.” He gave Ainsworth a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. He must wear an electronic tag during a four-month curfew between 6pm and 6am.


JANUARY 2024 PHTM


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