A Milford man who attempted to sell a quantity of Tramadol over a social networking site has been given a community order.
Twenty-six-year-old Gareth Brian Roberts, of Elm Lane, Mount Estate, pleaded guilty to a charge of offering to supply the Class C drug to the complainant, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that the defendant had a previous ‘connection’ to the complainant, who received a message on a social networking site on April 7, with the offer to buy some Tramadol.
“The message stated ‘I have lots if you want them’ and photos were sent as well, but the complainant replied - ‘you’ve got the wrong person’ adding that they were not interested,” he said.
The court heard that Mr. Roberts had previous convictions on record, but none for drugs. A community order he received last year was still in force magistrates were told.
Defence solicitor Mark Layton told the court that Mr. Roberts claimed that he did not know that Tramadol was a controlled drug and didn’t realise that he would get into trouble for trying to sell the quantity that he’d been given.
Magistrates stated that they would let Mr. Roberts’ current community order continue, and imposed a further one for a 12 month period, with a requirement of carrying out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Mr. Roberts was also handed a two-year restraining order with terms not to seek, approach or communicate by any means, directly or indirectly the complainant or her daughter; and not to enter by himself or through another any data or cause or permit any data to be entered on any electronic device, network or any internet/social media site that refers directly by necessary inference to the complainant and her daughter.
He was also told not to enter two addresses related to where the complainant lived as part of the terms of the restraining order.
Mr. Roberts was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.