Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury drug dealer gets unfavourable pre-sentence report

A DRUG dealer was surprised to learn a pre-sentence report will not do him many favours.

Danny Heap was due to be sentenced by a judge at Reading Crown Court on Friday, February 24.

He was convicted of possessing cannabis with intent to supply the Class B controlled drug in Newbury last April.

The 30-year-old, of St George's Avenue, Newbury, was also convicted of possessing the Class A controlled drug, cocaine, on the same occasion.

Mr Heap, pictured, in 2014, has numerous previous convictions and became the first person person to be made subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in the Thames Valley region.

Michael Harrison, defending, told the judge: "There is a letter from his mother which needs uploading to the system.

"And I know my client has concerns about the contents of the PSR (pre-sentencing report).

"He wasn't under the impression that it was adverse, as it seems to be."

Keith Hadrill, prosecuting, told the court: "The PSR suggests the defendant denies the offending to which he has pleaded guilty.

"This needs to be looked at carefully before matters can proceed to their conclusion."

However, Judge Kirsty Real said there was a larger problem.

The court heard that proper legal procedure had apparently not been followed when sending the the cocaine possession offence to the Crown Court from the magistrates' court.

Mr Harrison agreed that, if the matter was not resolved, it could render the entire sentencing procedure unlawful.

Judge Real said: "We need to resolve how this matter is put before the court, or get rid of it, somehow."

She therefore adjourned the sentencing hearing for the problem to be cleared up and mr Heap was meanwhile granted unconditional bail.