UK - Shop sold "drug taking equiptment"

[porchy]

[top]Shop sold drug taking equipment

Mar 13 2008 by Julia Bosnyak, Glamorgan Gazette
A FATHER-OF-TWO sold drug smoking equipment and cocaine cutting kits at his town centre shop.
Robin Michael Murray Hill, aged 53, of Heol Dwyrain, Brackla admitted supplying items which may be used in the administration of controlled drugs and believing the item is to be so used, between June 21 and October 26, 2007.
Police officers brought five large brown bags before magistrates – full of items seized in a raid at Murray Hill’s shop, the Trading Post, on Nolton Street, Bridgend on October 26. Officers valued the haul at £5,000.
Pink and yellow fluorescent bongs, bearing cannabis leaf motifs were among the items displayed as an example of the seized goods in court.
Magistrates heard it is legal to sell the items, but illegal to sell them to anybody you believe will use them in relation to drugs.
In police interview, Murray Hill said he had customers in his shop who he believed were drug users and he recalled them buying the bongs.
Items seized by police included 58 bongs, 123 pipes, 26 leaf grinders and 57 packets of small plastic bags. There were also kits that include cutting devices, tubes and small razors.
“They’re cocaine cutting kits,” said Deena Loynton, prosecuting.
Notices displayed in the Trading Post stated that it is an offence to sell items if they are going to be used in connection with drugs.
“It’s forewarning customers of the offence and the approach they should take,” said Mrs Loynton.
When asked by police what the customers would be buying the items for, Murray Hill suggested that the scales could be for cooking, the “bongs” for herbs and the grinders for mint or basil.
In reference to the display of seized goods, John McCarthy, defending, said: “It obviously looks like a circus in this court. All of these items in themselves are not unlawful – he is perfectly entitled to sell these items whether you like it or not.”
Mr McCarthy said that the Trading Post had closed last week.
Murray Hill was sentenced to 120 days in prison, suspended for two years as well as a two-year community order with a supervision requirement.
He was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay £100 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
South Wales Police Supt Tim Jones said: “This is a first class investigation and we are very pleased with the sentences passed and hope this sends out a clear message.
“This is an example of someone who has made money through illegal activity and at times at the expense of people who have been vulnerable in the community.
“Mr Murray Hill ran this shop in the heart of the community and has shown complete lack of community of social responsibility.”


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/so...1466-20613070/

[infekt]

outraged. I guess this is the beginning of the end for headshops..

[porchy]

I think the penalty is way too high. Its a shame there's nowhere in my town that I know of to buy that sort of thing any more.

[enquirewithin]

Magistrates heard it is legal to sell the items, but illegal to sell them to anybody you believe will use them in relation to drugs.


In police interview, Murray Hill said he had customers in his shop who he believed were drug users and he recalled them buying the bongs.

Poor guy-- no doubt the police scared him into making this admission somehow. Who knows what threats they made? The police can break the law with impunity most of the time.

This is terrible legal precedent.

[porchy]

The owner was a very sound guy (even though he was called "Sketchy Steve") and the shop bought and sold second hands goods so its not as if it was a full on "head shop". There's no way he deserved what happened to him. I'm very sad

[yumfatbig1]

Now that this deadly collection of mint grinders has been taken off the streets, the world is a safer place.

[Blu_berrytoke]

That's some Buuullllshit. How the hell can the judicial system even view this "bust" as being helpful? It's a waste of time and money is all it is.
Law enforcment is going at everything backwards, they start at the end of the drug chain, busting potsmoking teenagers, and headshop owners now apparently, which accomplishes absolutely nothing but to fill up the judicial system with stupid timeconsuming menial cases. All the while, the real bad guys are getting away because they play it smart and know how to not get caught.
My conclusion, Law enforcment needs some serious revising and upgrading.

[Alfa]

I think this was a sign of what's coming for the UK headshop industry.