Overcrowded jails plea rejected

A 67-year-old man has been jailed for 14 months for cannabis possession after his defence plea not to add to prison overcrowding problems was rejected.

Ashley Barrett, of Wandsworth, London, was caught with £200 worth of cannabis in November 2005 and police later found £1,800-worth of the drug at his home.

Hugh D'Aguilara, defending, told Southwark Crown Court Barrett should get a suspended sentence.

But Recorder David Brock said only a custodial sentence was "appropriate".

John Reid

After Barrett was convicted of four counts of possessing herbal cannabis and resin derivative with intent to supply, Mr D'Aguilara urged the judge not to jail his client.

He said: "I don't put this in the sense of a media frenzy, but according to the home secretary John Reid the prison population is now up to the point of being full to the rafters.

"The matter can be dealt with by way of a suspended sentence."

But the judge refused his request, telling Barrett: "I have listened with care and taken into account everything that has been said about your personal circumstances and with regard to your age, but only a custodial sentence is appropriate."