Man, 29, jailed after caught supplying prescription drugs
A MAN has been sent to prison for supplying drugs which were prescribed to him.
Shane Topley, 29, admitted in the Royal Court that he had supplied class B drug cannabis and class C drugs gabapentin and diazepam. He was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison.
One of the offences took place at the end of Topley’s suspended sentence related to a conviction for supplying cannabis in 2019, for which he was given two years in prison, suspended for three years.
‘You came here knowing you were going to prison, there is no other outcome,’ said Judge Catherine Fooks.
‘You said you are remorseful, but you said that last time and it did not stop you from reoffending, you are not learning from your mistakes and are in denial.’
Topley was seen by police officer on patrol at North Beach handing something to a man who handed him something back.
In his possession he was found to have two paper pharmacy pots containing cannabis prescribed to him and five blister packs of gabapentin, containing 60 300mg tablets.
During a full search of Topley’s bag at the police station, officers found £296.46 in cash, four tablets of diazepam, and the other individual had 10 5mg tablets of diazepam, purchased from Topley.
Topley’s phone was seized and was found to contain messages indicating the supply of gabapentin, diazepam and cannabis.
The quantity of all supplied was unknown, but the market value for the 10 diazepam was estimated at £50, and the gabapentin at £180.
Defending, Advocate Sam Steel said that it had been 17 months since Topley was arrested and he was in court to face the music.
‘He has had a long time to reflect on his offending,’ he said. ‘He has never been so regretful and sorry for his actions.’
He said that the exact quantities supplied were unknown but at the lower end of the scale.
Topley has three children who would be impacted if he went to prison and Advocate Steel asked the court to consider a community service order, although he was prepared for prison.
He was sentenced to two years and three months for supplying cannabis. He received nine months in prison for each of the other counts of supply, to be served concurrently.
He was sentenced to an additional four months in prison for breaching his suspended sentence.
