Stourbridge drug addict spared jail (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge drug addict spared jail

2:06pm Friday 27th November 2009

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A STOURBRIDGE man who carried out 30 heroin transactions a day for eight weeks to clear a debt to his own drug dealer has been spared jail.

Wolverhampton Crown Court Judge Martin Walsh told Justin Clewes - described as having a "huge and insidious drug habit" - he was taking an exceptional course by opting not to send him straight to prison.

He said it was clear the 31-year-old - a man of positive good character - was now motivated to stay out of trouble with police and to resolve his "terrible" drug addiction.

The Judge said: "People involved in any way in the commercial supply of Class A drugs can expect prison sentences going into years.

"Drugs destroy lives and communities and, for supplying them, you could have gone to prison for a long time. But there are exceptional circumstances in this case and I am prepared to take an extraordinarily lenient view."

But he warned Clewes, of Junction Road, that if he failed to obey the orders of the court he would be brought back and there was no doubt he would go behind bars for a long time.

Clewes admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply and also possessing a small amount of cannabis and he was given two-year Community and Supervision Orders.

He was further told he must undergo Drug Rehabilitation treatment and also obey a three-month curfew between the hours of 9pm and 7am.

Samantha Powis, defending, said Clewes - described as decent man - had been nursing a terrible drug addiction for a number of years.

She added: "He wants to be clear of drugs for the new year.

"He was looking to pay off his drug debt because he did not want to go cap in hand to his parents.

"He is a very vulnerable man who, in the past, has been bullied and threatened. The shame and remorse he has shown are heartfelt and society will be much better served by him being given the chance to resolve his drug addiction."

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