A Dungannon man has been told by a judge that he is funding “child abuse, prostitution and human trafficking” as a heroin addict.
Gerrard Aiden Nixon, 55, of Drumcoo Green, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a pre-sentence report hearing into a possession of class A charge, with District Judge Bernie Kelly adding that she always took they view the magistrates’ sentencing power was not enough.
The incident occurred on January 9, when police were conducting a vehicle search on Garvaghy Park, Portadown, when they discovered heroin in the defendant’s car.
Nixon admitted to possession straight away claiming he had bought it for £20.
Defence counsel told the court the defendant had three previous drug convictions but accepted this was “all the more serious as it was heroin”.
They conceded that “given the fact that it is a class A drug “ it made little difference that it was a small amount.
Judge Kelly told the defendant “you fund the heroin industry” that is why “possession of heroin is a very serious offence”.
Nixon told the Judge that he had now quit heroin, but she was not convinced, telling him “there is no such thing as being off heroin, it is the most addictive drug in the world, you are always an addict”.
She went on stating by buying you are complicit in the trade which supports “child abuse, prostitution and human trafficking”.
Judge Kelly added that she had always taken the view that she did not have enough sentencing power when it came to the possession of class A.
Nixon was sentenced to three months in prison but as he was taken away he struggled with security staff pleading with the judge, “I am off the heroin”.
The defendant even wrestled out of the dock before finally being taken away.
Defence counsel later lodged an appeal as Nixon was brought back into the court.
Judge Kelly stated that the defendant should realise he does have “an automatic right to appeal, but not to bail and the appeal court will not sit until the end of the month”.
She added: “You do not behave like a maniac putting the staff under pressure” if you wish to have bail granted.
Nixon was granted his own bail of £250 and was told not to enter Co Armagh except for the purpose of court.
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