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| Cannabis grandmother spared jail | Cannabis grandmother spared jail |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A 68-year-old grandmother convicted of growing cannabis at her Northumberland home has been given a 250 hour community service order. | A 68-year-old grandmother convicted of growing cannabis at her Northumberland home has been given a 250 hour community service order. |
| Patricia Tabram, from Humshaugh, had denied charges of possessing and cultivating the drug when she appeared at Carlisle Crown Court. | Patricia Tabram, from Humshaugh, had denied charges of possessing and cultivating the drug when she appeared at Carlisle Crown Court. |
| She was arrested in 2005 when plants and growing equipment were seized. | |
| Tabram had claimed she used the drug to relieve depression after the death of her son and pain following a car crash. | |
| Last year she was spared jail after admitting possessing cannabis with intent to supply. | Last year she was spared jail after admitting possessing cannabis with intent to supply. |
| I am old and I am tired and I am disappointed Patricia Tabram | I am old and I am tired and I am disappointed Patricia Tabram |
| After the hearing she said: "I'm going to go on medicating. | After the hearing she said: "I'm going to go on medicating. |
| "The police can come to my house every week. I'll give them a cup of tea. | "The police can come to my house every week. I'll give them a cup of tea. |
| "I'll give them a decent biscuit, which of course will be medicated and I'll give them some cannabis so they charge me again and again and again." | "I'll give them a decent biscuit, which of course will be medicated and I'll give them some cannabis so they charge me again and again and again." |
| The court heard how she has suffered depression since the death of her teenage son in 1975. | The court heard how she has suffered depression since the death of her teenage son in 1975. |
| She also said the drug relieved aches and pains caused by two car crashes. | She also said the drug relieved aches and pains caused by two car crashes. |
| Tabram said she was not afraid of going to prison | Tabram said she was not afraid of going to prison |
| She was in breach of a six-month suspended jail sentence for the 2005 conviction when police, acting on a tip-off, found the plants in a walk-in wardrobe at her home. | She was in breach of a six-month suspended jail sentence for the 2005 conviction when police, acting on a tip-off, found the plants in a walk-in wardrobe at her home. |
| Ms Tabram also told them there was powder stored in jars in her kitchen to be used in cooking. | Ms Tabram also told them there was powder stored in jars in her kitchen to be used in cooking. |
| She said: "I am old and I am tired and I am disappointed, not in the result by the jury. | She said: "I am old and I am tired and I am disappointed, not in the result by the jury. |
| "I am disappointed in the attitude of the court regarding someone my age with my health problems and the way I deal with it. | "I am disappointed in the attitude of the court regarding someone my age with my health problems and the way I deal with it. |
| "I just want to go home and get some rest." | "I just want to go home and get some rest." |
| Before appearing in court, the grandmother-of-two claimed she was "not afraid" of going to prison. | Before appearing in court, the grandmother-of-two claimed she was "not afraid" of going to prison. |
| 'Everyone's granny' | 'Everyone's granny' |
| She said she would be "everyone's granny" and would be "treated like a queen". | She said she would be "everyone's granny" and would be "treated like a queen". |
| In 2005, Judge David Hodson refused to jail Tabram, saying he did not want to make her a martyr. | In 2005, Judge David Hodson refused to jail Tabram, saying he did not want to make her a martyr. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Shame that nobody ever admits drug policy in the UK is a complete and utter failure Peter, Croydon Send us your comments Read more of your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Shame that nobody ever admits drug policy in the UK is a complete and utter failure Peter, Croydon Send us your comments Read more of your comments |
| But on Wednesday Judge Barbara Forrester said she could not rule out a jail term because Tabram was in breach of the suspended sentence. | But on Wednesday Judge Barbara Forrester said she could not rule out a jail term because Tabram was in breach of the suspended sentence. |
| Following the conviction, a Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Patricia Tabram has consistently flouted the law and Northumbria Police has a duty to act on the information we receive concerning possessing and cultivating drugs in order to enforce this law. | Following the conviction, a Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Patricia Tabram has consistently flouted the law and Northumbria Police has a duty to act on the information we receive concerning possessing and cultivating drugs in order to enforce this law. |
| "We take drug abuse very seriously and are keen to use all tools at our disposal to eliminate drug dealing and use in the community." | "We take drug abuse very seriously and are keen to use all tools at our disposal to eliminate drug dealing and use in the community." |
| The Crown Prosecution Service said medicinal use of cannabis was not a legal defence to possession and cultivation of the drug. | The Crown Prosecution Service said medicinal use of cannabis was not a legal defence to possession and cultivation of the drug. |