Published on 26/01/2007
THREE people who supplied thousands of chocolate bars laced with cannabis to multiple sclerosis sufferers walked free from court today.
Mark Gibson, his wife Lezley, both 42, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), from Alston, and Marcus Davies, 36, were each given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years.
All three defendants argued that the drug eased the symptoms of MS and believed they had a defence of medical necessity but this was rejected by a jury last month.
Sentencing today at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge John Phillips said he accepted their motives were “altruistic”, that they had a genuine desire to help people who were suffering and that no profit was made from the operation.
