Cannabis dealer blames benefits freeze

Lee Goulden was found to have seven bags of the drugs at his home when police raided the address.

Goulden, 32, of St Leonard’s Road, East, St Annes, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply the drug.

He had appeared before a judge at crown court and been put on a suspended prison sentence in July this year for an identical offence of having cannabis with intent to supply it.

Goulden was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court for sentence on January 7 by Blackpool magistrates. He must keep a curfew at his home from 9pm to 7am as a condition of his bail. Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said police executed a drugs search warrant at Goulden’s home and found seven bags of cannabis, two cannabis grinders, digital scales and a bank receipt for £1,110 on December 11.

He admitted dealing cannabis to friends, because he had had no benefits money since October.

Howard Green, defending, said in September Goulden’s partner and baby moved in with him. The authorities believed she had lived there longer and in the first week of October Goulden’s benefits were suspended.

Goulden bought some cannabis in bulk to supply to friends, as a short-term solution to get himself out of a financial hole.