Took cannabis in attempt to stop drinking and be a ‘better man’

A Spalding man has told magistrates that he took cannabis as an alternative to alcohol in at attempt to stop drinking and be a ‘better man’.

Darren Paul Osborne, 37, of Chestnut Avenue admitted possession of a personal amount of cannabis when he appeared before Boston Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Ela Crighton said police were called when a man in Pinchbeck Road heard the sound of smashing glass behind his house and saw Osborne, who told him he was homeless and had nowhere to sleep.

She said police found a small amount of cannabis on him and he told them he smoked cannabis most days.

She added that his last conviction was for a similar offence in October 2019 when he was given a conditional discharge for a year.

Osborne, who was not represented in court, said his problem was with alcohol and he had been substituting that for cannabis as he had to have something in his system.

“I want to be a better man,” he told the magistrates. “and it’s working.

“I know it’s illegal but it’s a Catch 22 situation.”

He said all his problems had been caused by alcohol and his future goal was ‘not to do anything’ but that he had ‘to go one step at a time’.

He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £119 in court costs and charges.