Man jailed for possessing heroin with intent to supply (From Dorset Echo)

Man jailed for possessing heroin with intent to supply

11:00am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News By Rachel Stretton

A MAN has been jailed for more than five years after he admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Mohsine Koura, 30, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court where he admitted possessing 28grams of heroin, a class A drug, with intent.

He also admitted possessing a quantity of cannabis, a class B drug.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman told the court the heroin had been found when Koura, of Victoria Street, Weymouth, was arrested for an unconnected offence and searched, in September this year.

She said: “His home address was searched and the cannabis was found.

“In the car, some electronic scales were also found.

“The defendant was interviewed and admitted the cannabis was his and that the heroin was owned by himself and two others who he declined to name.”

The court was told that, if sold in individual bags weighing 0.1gram, the heroin would have an estimated street value of £2,800.

In mitigation, David Lyons said the electronic scales had been used by the defendant to ‘make sure he was not short-changed’.

He said: “He and two others pooled their resources and the defendant went off and purchased £750 of heroin on behalf of the syndicate, and would have returned £500 of that to the other two.”

Mr Lyons added: “Since the defendant has been in custody on remand he has addressed his usage of drugs, passed his screening tests and taken a number of courses with some success.”

Taking into account Koura’s two previous convictions for possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, Judge Roger Jarvis sentenced the defendant to 2,045 days – five years and seven months – imprisonment.

He ordered him to serve an additional 14 days in relation to the cannabis charge, to be served concurrently.

Police Action Is Applauded

THE sentence of five years and seven months for Koura was welcomed by the borough’s community safety spokesman.

Coun Geoff Petherick, of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “The police are doing an excellent job in tracking down and getting convictions for drugs offenders. I applaud their actions.”

Coun Petherick said drugs was a national problem which also affected the borough. He urged people to help fight the menace of drugs by reporting anything suspicious.

“It is important that the police keep up their diligence. People need to report these things to the police.”

The Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.