A Swindon teenager who failed to complete community service for drugs offences has been jailed for six months.

Aaron Gittens was told there was no one to blame but yourself' for him ending up behind bars despite not re-offending.

The 19-year-old was ordered to do 150 hours of community service after being convicted of possessing half a kilo of cannabis with intent to supply.

In December last year he was ordered to do a further seven hours and in January another 14 after being in breach.

But jailing him Judge Douglas Field said "The message has to go out that these community orders, particularly with unpaid work, if they are breached a high price is paid."

Gittens, of Monkton Close, Park South, had denied possession with intent to supply but was convicted by a jury at Salisbury crown court.

The teenager was found to have 500 grams of cannabis, worth about £2,000, at his mum's flat.

He claimed he had found the drugs when he was out walking his dog near to Shaftesbury Lake in east Swindon.

Jonathan Simpson, prosecuting, said at the house officer also found a set of scales, a cannabis grinder and plastic bags which he said had been used in the past.

He told the court that Gittens had failed to comply with the conditions of the sentence for the third time and still had about 133 hours to complete.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client thought the remaining hours were more in the order of 97 but accept he had fallen down again.

Since the offences which led to the order he said his client had not re-offended and was going through problems in his family life.

But Judge Douglas Field imposed a six month jail term saying he had to send out a message that the orders must be done.

He said "This is no less than a third breach and this is a serious matter as these community orders are made on the basis that if somebody goes into breach they are dealt with swiftly and severely.

"You have got no one to blame but yourself, you are going into custody. I am going to limit it to a short period of six months taking into account you have not offended in the mean time.

"The message has to go out that these community orders, particularly with unpaid work, if they are breached a high price is paid."

1:57pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

Print

Email this