Drug dealer comes clean over jailhouse ganja

HMP Northward

(CNS): A West Bay man who is serving four years in jail for dealing cocaine and ganja had a further three months added to his time behind bars Tuesday for drugs found in his cell. But 28-year-old Cleve Borden’s admission of guilt and a clean dope test after he told the court he had since given up smoking weed resulted in a lower additional term than he would have expected. Instead of an additional six months, the magistrate told Borden that his decision to get clean and come clean had saved him three months more time.

Borden was caught last year with around 162 grams of ganja hidden under the mattress in his cell.

The West Bay man was sentenced in October 2013 for drug offences and has been caught twice with ganja in jail. As a result Magistrate Valdis Foldats said he had to send a message to other prisoners regarding the use and possession of drugs at HMP Northward, as he said “they cannot do these things” and it was a significant offence.

“It’s a prison, for God’s sake,” he said.

But the magistrate added that Borden had made an enormous step in getting clean and it was clear he did not want to be in jail. He warned that he would, however, have to be strong and ensure that not only he but the man he shares a cell with are never caught again with drugs otherwise the sentences will keep getting longer.

Foldats urged Borden to stay clean and focus on a release plan and a future out of jail with his young family.