AN ENNISKILLEN man has been sentenced to a total of seven months in jail after he was found with 68 grams of synthetic cannabis.
Conor Logan (24) of Sycamore Drive appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug, namely synthetic cannabinoid, ab-chminaca.
At approximately 10.30pm on Saturday, June 3 police entered Logan’s home at Carnmore Lodge in Enniskillen on foot of a warrant. Police found a large amount of what they suspected was a psychoactive substance, a total of 68 grams, under his bed.
Logan made no comment in his interview with police.
Forensic testing showed the substance was ab-chminaca, a synthetic drug that mimics the effects of THC, the active substance in cannabis.
The court heard the value of the drugs found was in dispute. Police had estimated at the time of seizure the drugs had an estimated street value of £30 per gram, totalling in excess of £2,000, while Logan maintained the drugs were worth just £2.50 per gram, totalling over £150.
A spokesman for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said their checks showed the drugs were valued between £680-£1,360.
Defence solicitor Michelle McVeigh said Logan had been struggling with drug issues, but the birth of his first child last summer had been a catalyst for him to turn his life around.
The solicitor said Logan had spent nine-and-a-half weeks in custody on the matter between June and August last year before being granted bail, but had abided by his strict bail conditions since.
She said there had only been one breach, involving breaking his curfew, last week and this had happened because he felt he needed to leave his house to get the support of his partner and family.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the large quantity of drugs was an aggravating factor in the case, as was Logan’s previous drug convictions.
He said Logan “all too sadly” knew from family experience that using illegal drugs could have fatal consequences.
Judge Broderick sentence Logan to two months in prison for possession. He also activated a suspended sentence of five months that Logan was in breach of, to run consecutively. ’
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