A REPEAT cannabis crime offender was told by an experienced judge the illegal drug is 'not nearly as benign a substance as people think it is'.

Adam Brown, 21, received a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this year.

Brown had been involved with others in criminal cannabis supply activity which came to light after police stopped a car in Northumberland. Around £4,000 worth of the illicit drug was found stashed in the vehicle’s bumper.

But Brown failed to learn his lesson. And on October 3 police stopped a car which had been travelling on the M6 in the area of Southwaite services near Carlisle.

Brown, a front seat passenger, admitted he had a small amount of personal use cannabis on him.

He admitted illegally possessing the class B drug and appeared at the city’s crown court to be punished both for that offence and also for breaching the suspended jail term.

A probation officer provided a brief progress report during the hearing, saying Brown had less than 30 hours’ unpaid work from his previous court order remaining.

His general compliance, she added, did not give cause for any concern.

As a result, Judge Simon Medland QC ordered Brown, of Murdoch Terrace, Edinburgh, to complete a six-week electronically monitored night time curfew.

“You have put yourself right in the crosshairs of a sentence of imprisonment today for your continued involvement with cannabis,” said the judge.

And Judge Medland offered the defendant advice based on his 30 years of legal experience.

“Cannabis is not nearly as benign a substance as people think it is,” he said. “Day after day I see people whose mental health has been greatly impacted by their use of cannabis.”

“How do you want this to end?” the judge asked Brown. “If you want to spend your time in Durham or Barlinnie (prisons) then carry on as you are.

“If you do not, please do take this opportunity.”