BBC News Wrote:Drug-dealing milkman spared jail


Robert Holding was told his sentence was an "act of mercy"
A milkman who supplied cannabis to customers to ease their aches and pains has walked free from court.
Robert Holding, 72, of Fair View Road, Burnley, admitted possession and supply of cannabis and received a suspended prison sentence at Burnley Crown Court.
The court heard that his wife has Alzheimer's disease and recently moved into a care home.
Judge Beverley Lunt told Holding the sentence was "an act of mercy" in light of his wife's illness.
A previous hearing was told how Holding delivered the drug while doing his rounds to 17 customers he had built up through "word-of-mouth".
'Extremely frank'
He admitted at an earlier hearing to supplying cannabis resin between April and July 2008, and possessing cannabis with intent to supply on 17 July last year.
Prosecutor Sarah Statham told the court that police found out about his activities and raided his property when his wife and daughter were at home.
During the raid, Holding arrived home in the van he used for his milk round and officers found nearly 6oz (167g) of cannabis split into 15 separate packets in an egg crate in the vehicle.
Miss Statham said the smallest amount the packets contained was 0.1oz (3g) of the drug and the largest amount was 0.7oz (20g).
She said the cannabis had an estimated street value of £450.
She added that Holding was "extremely frank" during the course of the police interview.
She said: "He said he sold the cannabis to existing customers because they were old and had aches and pains.
"He said he sold a 9oz (255g) bar about every three weeks and sold it for a relatively cheap value.
"He said that customers left him notes saying, for example, 'Can I have an ounce this week or can I have an eighth?'."