A 16-year-old girl from Cumbria has been prosecuted for the supply of a class B drug after selling two joints to a friend at school for just £10.
Described as a “hard-working student” and a “dutiful daughter” by her lawyer, the youngster appeared before Carlisle’s Rickergate Youth Court on March 29. Brought to tears in the courtroom, she pleaded guilty and was given a six-month referral order along with a £20 victim surcharge to pay.
According to a news report, the presiding magistrate told the girl that the offense was considered to be a serious one as the teenager had supplied the cannabis on school premises.
The prosecution may affect the unlucky teenager’s future employment opportunities as well as her freedom to travel as countries such as the US and Australia don’t usually give visas to those with a criminal record.
The offense came to light after school staff discovered two joints in a pupil’s bag and the defendant was named as the supplier. The defendant would not state where she obtained the cannabis but did say she sold the joints to her friend for £10.
While the accused had no previous prosecutions, there had been a “previous incident of a similar nature.”
The lawyer said that the girl is “a hard-working student at school and doing very well. She’s also a carer for her mother, who has a number of health issues.”
Speaking of her daughter, the girl’s mother said, “She’s brilliant. I can’t fault her. Normally, she’s very sensible. It was a very dumb thing to do.”
The teenager’s father said she regrets it now.
Are teachers allowed to go into pupils bag ? She would be better off saying that she gave the joints to her friend and not selling them.
I thought the police forces are turning soft on Cannabis also £20 victim surcharge. So who’s the victim??