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Supervision order for drug rabbi Community order for cocaine rabbi
(31 minutes later)
A multi-millionaire rabbi who was convicted of possessing cocaine that he took at parties has been given a supervision order. A multi-millionaire rabbi who admitted spending a £1,000 a week "on the best cocaine in town" has been ordered to do 60 days of community work.
Rabbi Baruch Chalomish, 54, of Salford, admitted one count of possessing cocaine and was found guilty of a further count of possession.Rabbi Baruch Chalomish, 54, of Salford, admitted one count of possessing cocaine and was found guilty of a further count of possession.
The judge at Manchester Crown Court ordered Chalomish, of Upper Park Road, to do 60 days community work. The judge at Manchester Crown Court told Chalomish that his "secret life had been exposed".
He said he took the drugs to try to forget his wife's death. The rabbi said he took the drugs to try to forget his wife's death.
Home 'in disarray'Home 'in disarray'
Chalomish had earlier told the court he had lived alone for nine years.Chalomish had earlier told the court he had lived alone for nine years.
He admitted his home, which is filled with unopened mail and empty bottles, was in disarray because since his wife died he had found it difficult to throw things away. He admitted his home, which was found to be filled with unopened mail and empty bottles, was in disarray because it became difficult for him to throw things away after his wife died in 1996.
The rabbi, who said he spent £1,000 a week on "the best cocaine in town", had also admitted he paid prostitutes to have sex with him. The rabbi also admitted he paid prostitutes to have sex with him.
Chalomish was also ordered to pay £3,899 costs. But as well as spending thousands of pounds on cocaine, Chalomish also delivered money-stuffed envelopes to those less fortunate than himself, the court heard.
You will have found that the publicity the case attracted has brought upon you a degree of contempt from people who have known you Judge Henshell
Police raided the city centre apartment he used for his drug and sex-fuelled parties on 5 January.
They discovered cocaine in the bedroom, on a glass tray and in a bowl, along with rolled up banknotes used for snorting the drug and credit cards used for chopping it into lines.
Chalomish sobbed as he told a jury he was "deeply ashamed" of snorting cocaine and did it only to stop feeling depressed and lonely after the death of his wife, Freda, 40.
Judge Henshell acknowledged the rabbi's religious training and his generosity.
He told him: "However you had a secret life, as it was referred to.
"Your secret life, which has been exposed in the glare of publicity, has, I'm quite certain, brought a degree of recrimination from members of the public and not only from your own community.
Nasir Abbas is on the run after being convicted of supplying drugs
"You will have found that the publicity the case attracted has brought upon you a degree of contempt from people who have known you.
"This is an appropriate case for a community penalty, for a man of your age and good character."
The jury at the a previous hearing cleared him of two counts of drug-dealing.
His co-accused Nasir Abbas, 54, who is on the run, was convicted of one count of drug possession and one count of supply and jailed in his absence for six years.
Outside court, Jonathan Goldberg QC, Chalomish's defence solicitor, told reporters: "He is very grateful to the judge for his understanding."
Chalomish was also made subject to a six-month supervision order and ordered to pay £3,899 costs.