By staff reporter

Last updated at 12:33, Wednesday, 09 April 2008

A MOTHER and her son who took out a £400 loan to buy a stash of cannabis so they could sell it to buy Christmas presents for their family have been jailed for nine and six months.

Carlisle Crown Court

Susan Quinn, 45, and Garry Scott, 19, of Grasmere Avenue, Woodhouse, Whitehaven, thought they could make a profit on the cannabis they’d bought by supplying it to others.

They hoped they would be able to pay back the £400 loan and make £400 profit to buy gifts for their grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Carlisle Crown Court heard yesterday that an off-duty policeman noticed a lot of people arriving and leaving their home after short periods on November 27 last year – three visitors were noticed in half an hour.

He called for back-up and one of the cars which had just left Mrs Quinn’s house was stopped and searched.

When police called at the house they found 301.2g of cannabis – some of it already prepared in foil packages.

Greg Hoare, defending Quinn, said: “She was trying to raise some money when the family was under financial stress.

“It was her idea to get her son involved. He is her carer as she suffers from chronic back pain and she feels bad that she got him involved. She is responsible for him being in court. The scheme was so she could make a profit in a short period of time.”

The court was told that Quinn used cannabis as a therapeutic aid for her back pain.

Scott, who first tried cannabis when he was 12, divided the drug into £5 and £10 wraps and either he or his mum answered the door when customers called.

Kim Whittlestone, defending Scott said: “There is no suggestion they were living a lavish lifestyle.

“They were in receipt of benefits.”

Judge Recorder Peter Davies said: “This is not a trivial matter.

“It was a joint venture – deliberate and calculated – and your motive was profit.”

He sentenced Quinn to nine months in prison which prompted an outcry from the public gallery.

Scott was sent to a young offenders institute for six months.

Quinn and Scott admitted supplying the class C drug and possessing it with intent to supply it at an earlier hearing.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 09 April 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk