A LYDNEY man who has used drugs since he was nine years old was horrified when a judge told him he must not touch a single illicit substance for the next two years or he will go to jail.
Incredulous Stacey Bowkett asked Judge Jamie Tabor QC "You mean I can’t take anything? I’ve been doing drugs since I was nine – how do you expect me to stop?"
But the Gloucester Crown Court Judge simply warned Bowkett again that if he did not stop he should "bring a big bag" with him to his next court appearance he would be doing down the steps to the cells.
Bowkett, of Harrison Way, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years for burglary, assault and possessing an offensive weapon.
At an earlier court appearance the judge had deferred sentence until last week for the defendant to address various issues such as suitable accommodation, education and keeping out of trouble.
"You have kept your side of the bargain so I won’t send you to prison today," said Judge Tabor.
"You have shown some effort and must be commended. But you must stop taking heroin – it will kill you in the end.”
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