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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Chocolate drugs trio spared jail | Chocolate drugs trio spared jail |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Three people have each been given a nine-month suspended jail term for supplying cannabis-laced chocolate bars to multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers. | Three people have each been given a nine-month suspended jail term for supplying cannabis-laced chocolate bars to multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers. |
| Mark Gibson, his wife Lezley, both 42, of Alston, Cumbria and Marcus Davies, 36, of St Ives, Cambs, were earlier convicted of conspiracy to supply. | Mark Gibson, his wife Lezley, both 42, of Alston, Cumbria and Marcus Davies, 36, of St Ives, Cambs, were earlier convicted of conspiracy to supply. |
| The couple admitted making thousands of "Canna-Biz" bars and sending them to MS sufferers around the world. | The couple admitted making thousands of "Canna-Biz" bars and sending them to MS sufferers around the world. |
| Davies admitted running an associated website and post office box. | Davies admitted running an associated website and post office box. |
| In their testimonies, the Cumbrian couple insisted they offered a free service funded by voluntary donations, which was only available to MS sufferers who provided a medical note confirming their condition. | In their testimonies, the Cumbrian couple insisted they offered a free service funded by voluntary donations, which was only available to MS sufferers who provided a medical note confirming their condition. |
| Davies had denied any involvement in making or posting the chocolate. | Davies had denied any involvement in making or posting the chocolate. |
| 'Very disappointed' | 'Very disappointed' |
| Cash receipts totalling £30,000 were seized by police, but Carlisle Crown Court heard Lezley Gibson told officers these referred to donations, which were ploughed "straight back in" to fund the operation. | Cash receipts totalling £30,000 were seized by police, but Carlisle Crown Court heard Lezley Gibson told officers these referred to donations, which were ploughed "straight back in" to fund the operation. |
| All three said they believed they had a defence of medical necessity in supplying the bars, but this was rejected by the jury. | All three said they believed they had a defence of medical necessity in supplying the bars, but this was rejected by the jury. |
| Outside court, Mrs Gibson, herself a MS sufferer, said she was very disappointed at the judge's ruling. | |
| She said: "I was devastated when we were found guilty and this decision has broken me again. | She said: "I was devastated when we were found guilty and this decision has broken me again. |
| "I still don't think I've done anything wrong. How can it be wrong to try and help ill people? What kind of government lets people suffer in this way? | "I still don't think I've done anything wrong. How can it be wrong to try and help ill people? What kind of government lets people suffer in this way? |
| "The people that used to use our service are now forced to go to the street dealers and buy contaminated cannabis." | "The people that used to use our service are now forced to go to the street dealers and buy contaminated cannabis." |
| 'Commercial enterprise' | 'Commercial enterprise' |
| The Gibsons said they were planning to appeal against their conviction. | The Gibsons said they were planning to appeal against their conviction. |
| Cumbria's Chief Crown Prosecutor, Claire Lindley, said: "The investigation showed this enterprise to be a commercial one, with payment being received for the majority of transactions. | Cumbria's Chief Crown Prosecutor, Claire Lindley, said: "The investigation showed this enterprise to be a commercial one, with payment being received for the majority of transactions. |
| "The police sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service before any charge was brought against any of the defendants. | "The police sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service before any charge was brought against any of the defendants. |
| "The then chief crown prosecutor, David Farmer, considered all the evidence and concluded that there was sufficient evidence to proceed and that the public interest required a prosecution in this case." | "The then chief crown prosecutor, David Farmer, considered all the evidence and concluded that there was sufficient evidence to proceed and that the public interest required a prosecution in this case." |