He was told: ‘You should pay the costs for your own stupidity’
Stephen Fraser admitted breaching the suspended sentence by possessing cannabis(Image: Hull Live)
A drug user who was caught with cannabis – despite narrowly avoiding prison for crack cocaine dealing – has been told by a judge: “You are a bloody fool.” Stephen Fraser was originally one of nine runners for a Class A drugs gang headed by three other men in the Bridlington area.
He had been given a two-year suspended prison sentence in March last year. Fraser, 37, of Baptist Place, Bridlington, admitted breaching the suspended sentence by possessing cannabis on December 11.
Andrew Lister, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court that police spotted a car in Market Place, Bridlington, that was suspected of being linked to drug supply in the area. The car took an “illogical and evasive route” to Parkfield Drive and parked in Nursery Grove.
When the car was next seen, Fraser had left it. A search was launched and Fraser was seen walking along Scarborough Road towards Burstall Hill.
Fraser put his hands inside his jacket but police pulled them away. He managed to pull a small plastic bag out of his front jacket pocket and dropped it near his foot. An officer picked this up.
It was found to be green herbal cannabis for his own use. During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 29 previous convictions, eight of those for drugs.
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Jazmine Lee, mitigating, said that the probation service had really helped Fraser move forward. “He has stopped offending,” said Miss Lee. “He has not been in trouble since the earlier serious offences.”
Judge Gurdial Singh said that Fraser had been “a bloody idiot” to be in possession of drugs in breach of a suspended prison sentence. He told Fraser: “You are a bloody fool. You could have no complaints if I locked you up.”
Fraser had shown “sheer arrogance” to carry drugs when he faced having the suspended sentence activated. He was fined £100 and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victims’ surcharge. “You should pay the costs for your own stupidity and think yourself lucky not to be going to prison,” said Judge Singh.
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