Last updated at 12:03, Saturday, 07 April 2012

A man who sold drugs to his friends to feed his own habit has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ricky John Rayson, 23, of Henry Street, Cockermouth, originally claimed the 271 diazepam tablets found in his possession were for “personal use”.

But he admitted in a second police interview that he had been selling them to five or six friends to fund his own habit after his GP stopped prescribing them to him 2011.

The court heard that Rayson had been given the tablets to treat a back problem but had become addicted.

Judge Barbara Forrester, passing sentence, said: “You admitted this offence at the first possible opportunity but unfortunately there was a delay while the matter was dealt with by the police.

“During that time you were involved in further drug offences and have previous ones on record as well. You were prescribed these pills and they were stopped by your GP because you were abusing it. You then went to buy them over the internet.

“I’m concerned by the number of appearances for drugs offences.

He was given a 30-week suspended prison sentence and ordered to submit to a supervision requirement.

Rayson, already subject to a curfew for possession of cannabis and diazepam, was told it would continue for a further three months.

First published at 08:57, Saturday, 07 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk