A 22-year-old Birmingham man has been ordered to pay over £200 after being found in possession of cannabis. Arraz Mzori, of Springfield Road in Moseley, was approached by police officers who detected a strong smell of cannabis emanating from him.
Court Proceedings
Mzori pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, June 9. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs, bringing the total to £225.
Incident Details
The offence occurred on April 16. According to prosecutor Ruman Dhami, officers on patrol noticed the strong smell of cannabis coming from Mzori. He was holding three buds of cannabis in his hand, which he dropped to the floor when approached. When asked about the drugs, Mzori replied, 'come on it's just a spliff'.
Mzori was with another male who was also arrested. Officers considered a conditional caution but ruled it out due to Mzori's previous lack of engagement with such measures. It was also noted that Mzori had committed an identical offence in the same month.
Defendant's Statement
Representing himself in court, Mzori expressed remorse: 'I'm really sorry, I'm really trying my best to stop. I don't want to smoke anymore. I'm sorry.' He confirmed that he was not currently employed and was receiving benefits.
Magistrates advised Mzori to contact the charity Change Grow Live (CGL) for support in addressing his drug use.
