Tarvin cannabis user fined for drug possession

Feb 11 2010 by Mark Dowling, Chester Chronicle

A CANNABIS user from Tarvin tried to run away from police officers after he was found with the class B drug.

But officers caught up with 20-year-old Kirk Seaborne, of Bypass Road, and arrested him later.

Chester magistrates heard Seaborne plead guilty to possessing 1.6g of cannabis, and to obstructing a police officer in the course of their duty.

Laurence Bestow, prosecuting, said the incident happened in Grosvenor Park, Chester on August 9, where officers saw Seaborne and remarked how he smelt strongly of cannabis. In response, he showed them a lit, half-smoked joint.

Seaborne was searched and found to have another joint, unlit and not smoked, in his trouser pocket.

An officer went to put handcuffs on Seaborne, but he ran off, only to be caught shortly afterwards.

The court heard in Seaborne’s defence he had made a prompt guilty plea and thought cannabis was still a class C drug.The amount of cannabis found was very small and for his own use.

Presiding magistrate Mark Johns said: “There are some aggravating factors here. The offence took place in public and you wilfully obstructed police, and your offence was intentional.”

Seaborne was fined £45 for cannabis possession, £45 for obstructing police, plus £50 costs and £15 victims surcharge. The cannabis was to be forfeited and destroyed.