Pubdate: Sun, 14 Mar 2004
Source: Sunday Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2260
Author: Billy Patterson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

JAILED FOR ONE JOINT

JP Is Slammed For Remanding John In Prison

A CONTROVERSIAL magistrate has been slammed for locking up a man caught 
with a piece of cannabis smaller than a pea.

Graeme Rennie's decision was branded an abuse of power and cost taxpayers 
thousands of pounds.

John Munro, 24, ended up in the district court after being caught with 0.7 
grammes of cannabis, barely enough for one joint.

The computer worker was stunned when Mr Rennie, a hotel owner and former 
Tory Councillor with no formal legal training, ordered him to be remanded 
in Glasgow's Barlinnie jail.

Justice of the Peace Mr Rennie has attracted controversy before - for 
jailing a depressed woman who stole two Pot Noodles.

John was stopped by police for having a faulty brake light on his car. 
Officers searched his car and found the cannabis, worth pennies, in a tin.

Most police forces have adopted a policy of warning but not prosecuting 
cannabis users caught with small amounts of the drug.

But John was cited to appear at Ayr District Court on a possession charge.

He pleaded guilty and JP Rennie deferred sentence for social inquiry 
reports and warned John he could face prison.  When the case was recalled 
three weeks later, John was still trying to arrange a meeting with social 
work staff.

Mr Rennie deferred the case again but this time remanded him in prison for 
three weeks.  The decision shocked court staff and police officers, who 
helped John get a solicitor.

Speaking at his country cottage at Hollybush, near Ayr, yesterday, John 
said: "It was a terrible experience.  That man should not be sitting in 
judgement on anybody.

"It was a wee piece of cannabis in a tin.  I had forgotten it was there.

"I went along to the court to plead guilty by myself, expecting a fine."

And John said of being locked up: "I was numbed.  Even the police couldn't 
believe it.  They took me in a van to Ayr Sheriff Court and somebody 
arranged for a solicitor to see me."

Lawyer Ian Gillies decided to lodge an appeal.  He said: "I felt it was a 
totally outrageous decision for Mr Munro to be remanded in custody for 
three weeks."

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord MacFadyen ruled that JP Rennie's 
remand had been excessive and ordered John's release.

But by then, John had spent six days in Barlinnie.

His lawyer added: "When you add up his time in prison, the paperwork, the 
High Court time and the use of counsel to lodge an appeal, this would 
probably have cost the taxpayer over UKP 2000 (UKP)."

When John eventually appeared before a different JP after a social inquiry 
report had been compiled, sentence was deferred for a year for good behaviour.

Law experts said the case damaged the reputation of district courts, which 
deal with minor crimes such as speeding, shoplifting and breach of the peace.

The chairman of the Scottish Human Rights Centre, John Scott, who is also 
an advocate, said Mr Rennie's decision to remand John was one of the worst 
abuses of court power he had encountered..

He said: "That JP was out of line. To jail somebody for having such a tiny 
piece of cannabis is not acceptable.  This was a waste of time and resources."

Last year, the Mail told how Mr Rennie had jailed Carol Robertson, who 
stile two Pot Noodles.

Carol, who had spent 12 weeks in hospital being treated for depression, was 
locked up for 14 days for failing to pay a UKP 50 (UKP) fine for the theft.

Ayr MP Sandra Osborne said: "At the time of the Carol Robertson case, I 
wrote to the procurator fiscal in Ayr complaining about Mr Rennie.

"After his treatment of Mr Munroe, I will again contact the relevant 
authorities, asking them to look at whether this man is fit to sit on the 
bench."

Mr Rennie said: "I have no comment"
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom