A MAN from Bodelwyddan has been spared jail after he was caught with more than 1,200 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Simon Binns, 31, of Maes Stanley, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Mold Crown Court today (April 13).

He will also complete 30 days’ rehabilitation activity, and 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Prosecuting, Dafydd Roberts told the court that, on May 24, 2022, police stopped an Audi S3 vehicle, being driven by Binns, on a slip road off the A55 in St Asaph.

Police had received information that drugs may be being brought in Binns’ car from Bolton to North Wales.

Binns immediately co-operated, and two bags of cannabis, weighing 592.17g and 636.86g, were recovered in the boot of the car.

The drugs had a potential street value of up to £12,280, Mr Roberts said.

He was arrested, and voluntarily told police that he was in possession of more cannabis than that which had been found in his boot.

A search of his home found two scales in working order, and 606 small plastic bags, in his shed.

Defending Simon Killeen said that Binns, who had no previous convictions, had a history of “very good employment”.

Binns is currently working as a fibre optics engineer, with Mr Killeen saying he has “good prospects of promotion to a managerial position”.

He “had the good sense to plead guilty”, Mr Killeen added, and was said to be in a stable relationship and of previous good character.

Mr Killeen described his client as a “classic candidate” for a suspended sentence.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Mills also ordered the deprivation of the items identified in the police’s search.

Binns is to pay a statutory surcharge, and £500 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Recorder Mills told him: “You have got a fantastic job, which makes it difficult to understand why you would get involved with something like this in the first place.

“Make sure you live a law-abiding life.”