Two freed as jail term slashed

Two men caught with "tiny" quantities of drugs were freed after having their sentences more than halved as a judge commended their frankness.

Simon Russell Bird, aged 26, of Shannon Drive, Walsall, and Ashley Tomlinson, 27, of Market Street, Cannock, were locked up for 15 months after being caught in a car with minute amounts of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine in January last year.

They admitted supplying cannabis to pals to feed their own habits. Both men, of previous good character, were jailed after admitting supplying cannabis and possession of cocaine at Stafford Crown Court in November.

Tomlinson also admitted having amphetamine and was given a concurrent sentence for that. Yesterday Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw and Judge Henry Globe QC at London's Criminal Appeal Court, freed both men after slashing their sentences to six months.

Lady Justice Hallett said: "Given the small quantities of drugs involved, they are to be commended for their frankness. They were addicted to cannabis and sold to friends to feed their habits.

"We are satisfied that the sentences were excessive." She added that the offending was at the very bottom of the scale.