Newbury Weekly News - May 11th 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Drug dealing pair ‘absolute mugs’ Judge gives couple ‘abig,bigwake-up call’ overcannabis

A LAMBOURN couple caught with half a kilo of cannabis and thousands of pounds in cash have been spared an immediate jail sentence. His Honour Paul Dugdale gave the pair a furious dressing down, which made them visibly pale, before telling them they would not be going to prison that day. In the dock at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, April 27, were 41-year-old Scott Owen Edwards and his heavily preg- nant partner, Tanya Emma Ledbury, aged 23, who had been supplying friends in the village. Richard Moss, prosecuting, said a member of the Hungerford and Lambourn Valley neighbour- hood police team, had been alerted to a strong smell of herbal cannabis coming their home. Subsequent police raids netted a huge haul of the powerful strain of the Class B controlled drug called ‘skunk’, plus £3,000 in cash. Edwards and Ledbury, both of The Old Station Yard, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply between August 3 and August 25 last year. Edwards also has previous drug convictions, including one for growing cannabis, the court heard. Lucky Thandi, representing Edwards, said her client was Plant sale this weekend

big, wake-up call. You have a positive future ahead of you if you give up drugs... a stable home, a family. “But you gambled with all of that when you thought it a bright idea to buy an awful lot of cannabis, to smoke an awful lot of cannabis and to sell it.” He added: “You both behaved like absolute mugs. “Skunk is very powerful. It is debilitating and pretty much ruins you for anything in life – of course you can’t work, because of anxiety and paranoia. “That’s cannabis. It causes more mental health issues in our community than anything else. “It will ruin your life and make you utterly useless for your child.” Sentencing Edwards – “the main mover in this operation” – the judge imposed a 12-month term of imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and six-month drug rehabilitation requirement. Ms Ledbury was made subject to a 12-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement. As a parting shot, Judge Dugdale said: “You’re being given a chance. Good luck and don’t muck it up.” Tumblings, opposite St Lawrence Church, Parsonage Lane. If you have any plants to donate, take them to the same address tomor- row (Friday), between 2pm and 4pm. All money raised will go to Rotary charities.

living on benefits, prompting Judge Dugdale to interject: “Why isn’t he working? It’s not compli- cated – he could just get off his backside, get out and get a job.” Ms Thandi replied that her client, who had been using the drug for 20 years, suffered from paranoia and anxiety, to which the judge retorted: “That’s the cannabis.” She added that Edwards had helped to wean Ledbury from a heroin habit and she hoped to be completely opiate free by the time she gave birth in June. Michelle Clark, representing Ledbury, said: “She is aware she is at grave risk of going into custody today.” After reading pre-sentence reports, Judge Dugdale told the pair to stand, and said to Edwards: “When your child asks in six or seven years’ time where you were when they were born, and you have to say ‘in prison’, that won't look good.” Turning to Ledbury, Judge Dugdale said: “When the child looks at his or her birth certifi- cate and sees the place of birth was prison, that won’t look good either, will it?” As the pair sobbed in the dock, the judge added: “Let me tell you now: I’m not sending you to prison today. Let this be a big, THERE will be a record number of plants on offer at this year’s Hungerford Rotary Club plant sale. But more are always welcome. The event takes place on Satur- day between 10am and noon at

Theprojecteamhauls alargepieceofmetal from thewaters

Volunteers have Dun such a great job A PROJECT to clean up the River Dun at Bearwater in Hungerford is under way. this stretch of the Dun for wildlife and for people to enjoy too.” facility is having a team-building day with ARK to continue the river work.

Bearwater’s retired residents are also playing their part, keep- ing volunteers fuelled with tea and cakes and occasionally drop- ping by to see the transformation of the river and have a chat. Ms Forbes said: “The Methodist church are kindly letting volun- teers use the church facilities. “Bearwater people have been amazing – they’ve all totally embraced this project and have truly mucked in.” Next week, a team of managers from the Cognatum retirement

The work is being done by the Action for the River Kennet (ARK) charity, with lots of help from the local community. ARK project officer Anna Forbes said the first two river restoration days, where local people volunteered to help while learning news skills, had been a huge success. She said: “Everyone enjoyed last week; feedback from volun- teers has been incredibly positive. “They all worked really hard and together we’re improving

There may be more opportuni- ties to get involved with this project throughout May. To keep up to date and follow this project, visit ARK’s Face- book page www.facebook.com/ riverkennet The Bearwater Community River Days project is led by ARK and funded by Thames Water Rivers & Wetlands Community Days, with additional support from Bearwater, the Bearwater residents coffee morning and Co- op Local Good Cause. been to court to deny a second charge of drink-driving on another occasion. The trial for that alleged offence will take place on June 20, the court heard. Mr Hislop was meanwhile fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £30. In addition, he was banned from driving for 12 months.

Motorist faces two drink-drive charges A DRINK-driver from Great Shefford still faces a trial on a similar charge. ing, said a police patrol stopped him because he was weaving across the carriageway.

Alexander Hislop, of Wantage Road, appeared before Reading magistrates on Thursday, May 4, where he admitted driving a Jeep Cheroke on Hungerford Hill, Great Shefford, after drinking more than the legal limit on April 19. Clare Barclay, prosecut-

Tests subsequently showed 43mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg. Joanna Benn, defending, said her client had been dealing with psychological issues and that, on the same day of his arrest, he had

Bell foundry talk HISTORIAN Graham Palmer gave a talk on the Aldbourne Bell Foundry at the latest meeting of Hungerford Historical Association (HHA). Mr Palmer based his talk on 30 years’ study of bells, especially relating to the Aldbourne Bell Foundry. Drawings from the 17th century showed that the village had not changed drastically, and that a number of original buildings remain today. The Bell Foundry, installed by Robert Corr in the 17th century, cast cannons emblazoned with his distinctive embellished marks. Several generations followed as gunsmiths. Later, church bells were cast, including one for the rebuilt St Lawrence Church in Hungerford in 1814. Sadly, the meeting heard, the local Bell pub no longer exists with its iconic sign to record Aldbourne’s unique industrial past and renowned foundry. The talk was followed by the enthusiastic audi- ence having the opportunity to view a display of some of the unique collection of bells Mr Palmer has amassed over the years. The next HHA meeting will be on Wednesday, May 24, when Charles Baxter and Kevin Challen will deliver a talk on ‘The Wilton Windmill and the mill at Chateau Guédelon’. For more information on the HHA, visit the website www.hungerfordhistorical.org.uk Dementiawalkandcupcakes LAMBOURN Valley Dementia Friendly Community Forum has organised a walk in support of Dementia Awareness Week. The event is open to everyone, and dogs are welcome too. Participants will meet in the British Legion car park, Big Lane, at 9.30am on Monday, May 15, for a gentle walk around the Old Cricket Field, followed by cupcakes and hot drinks outside The George, High Street, Lambourn.

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