A 45-YEAR-OLD who admitted acting as a “custodian” for Class A drugs has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Christopher Hutchins, of Wigod Way, Wallingford, pleaded guilty to possessing 2.4g of cocaine and 15 tablets of psychedelic drug 2CB with intent to supply.

The defendant also admitted possessing 51.4g of cannabis resin and 37.88g of cannabis for personal use on the same date.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said the drugs had a total value of about £645, according to Thames Valley Police’s drugs expert.

He told Judge Ian Pringle that when officers arrived to search Hutchins’ home he was very helpful and showed them where the drugs were.

Mr Stone said the prosecution has accepted the defendant’s guilty pleas on the basis that he was only holding the Class A drugs for someone else.

The barrister added that since December 2001 – when his son was born – Hutchins has no previous convictions.

Ronan McCann, defending, said his client had struggled with an addiction to Class A drugs for years but was now only a habitual cannabis user.

He added that a motorcycle accident and arthritis also caused him a lot of pain and he used cannabis to self-medicate.

Mr McCann said: “He has attempted to manage his pain, in quite difficult circumstances, by using cannabis.”

Judge Pringle said whatever Hutchins’ view on whether or not the Class B drug should be legalised “the plain fact is that it is illegal in this country”.

But he said that it was to the defendant’s credit that he had given up Class A drugs and was bringing up his son himself. Judge Pringle sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for 18 months, with a supervision requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He will also have to pay a £100 victims’ surcharge.

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