Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury drug dealer caught red handed

THIS is the moment a dealer was busted by police, caught with drugs and cash together worth around £40,000.

Our photograph, sent in by a reader, shows the police raid in Newtown Road, Newbury.

There is no suggestion of any connection with the innocent business pictured.

The raid happened on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 22.

On Thursday, February 24, James Petman appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court.

The 35-year-old, of Bartholomew Street, Newbury, admitted possessing the Class B-controlled drug with intent to supply it to others.

He further admitted acquiring criminal property, namely £18,000 in cash.

He has previously been jailed for savage assaults on a woman.

Emily King, prosecuting, said Mr Petman had been caught with 21 blocks of cannabis resin valued at up to £25,000.

In addition, there was £18,000 cash in his wallet, the court heard.

Simon Hammudi, defending, admitted his client had been to Bristol to conclude a drug deal.

However, he added, it appeared police had been tipped off and, when Mr Petman returned in a taxi, police were waiting.

Mr Hammudi said his client had been told the day before about "a large amount of cannabis, mainly hashish, and that there was a deal on offer if he could pick it up".

He said: "He took a taxi from Newbury to Bristol and then stopped at a friend's address above the café.

"Police had received a call about someone coming into the area with drugs and were behind him straight away.

"He accepts that his intent was to supply.

"I'm not sure what happened to the taxi driver; he hasn't been charged."

Mr Hammudi said his client, a father of two, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity "to gain the maximum credit [at sentencing], to put it behind him and to learn from this".

District judge Samuel Goozee told Mr Petman: "Considering the sentencing guidelines, it's my view that you need greater punishment than I can impose.

"I'm therefore committing this to the crown court."

He ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared on an 'all options' basis.

Mr Hammudi asked the judge to grant his client conditional bail, arguing that it was entirely possible Mr Petman would receive a suspended prison sentence.

But judge Goozee told Mr Petman: "You have pleaded guilty to playing a significant role in possessing a large quantity of drugs with intent to supply.

"You have previous convictions.

"And there are substantial grounds to believe that, if you are released on bail, you would re-offend."

He denied Mr Petman bail and remanded him in custody to await sentence at Reading Crown Court on a date to be fixed.