Drug dealer jailed for 2 years

A man has been jailed for two years for dealing and supplying cannabis after a judge said he wanted to “send a message” that the drug is illegal.

Gary Harvey (23), his partner, Sharine Armstrong, and another woman, Penny Chalmers, all of Tennyson Street, Oldham, were also convicted of being in possession and using cannabis.

Harvey, who was found to have large amounts of the class C drug at his home in March this year, pleaded guilty at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, to two charges of dealing the drug for financial gain.

Two days after police raided his house, Harvey was stopped by police and found with £2,000.

He said he didn’t know where the money had come from and that he was just a courier.

Judge Roger Thomas QC said: “You may think that this drug is part of your lifestyle.

“If you sat in my chair you would not have the same view of people who use this drug.

“We need to put a message out that the drug is illegal.

“Dealing or using the drug, the message is clear. You have lost your job, your family and subsequently your freedom.”

Armstrong (27) and Chalmers (36) were also found to be in possession of cannabis after their home was raided earlier this year.

Both pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted to being frequent users of the drug. They were each given six-month suspended sentences.

Mr Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said: “They found some cannabis in Mrs Chalmers’s coat jacket and she also had 10 grams in her handbag.

“Armstrong admitted to frequently using the drug and there were also text messages asking for cannabis from someone called Ed.”

The pair were ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme and will also have to report back to the court during the sentence to evaluate their rehabilitation.