Father jailed for drugs possession

A father-of-four was today jailed after he admitted possession of cannabis and heroin.

Jahmiko Hayward, 28, was in a car that was being followed by police on December 23, 2011 in Smith’s.

Hayward was seen to get out of the car and dispose of a package.

When officers searched the area, they found the package, which contained heroin wrapped in seven individual packages.

Police officers went to Hayward’s Broken Hill, Smith’s house where they began a search.

During the search, the officers found cannabis and a scale laced with cocaine.

When they searched Hayward, they found more than $5,000 in cash in his pockets.

One pocket had $2,200 in it and the other had $3,000 in.

Before being sentenced, Hayward apologised to the court.

His lawyer Dantae Williams argued for a non-custodial sentence for his client.

Sentencing him, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner noted that Hayward didn’t plead guilty until March of this year.

He also noted the amount of cash found in Hayward’s possession and that the heroin was wrapped in individual packages.

Mr Warner said the sentences imposed for small amounts of cannabis are usually a $1,000 fine or 30 days imprisonment.

He fined Hayward $800 for the cannabis.

As far as the heroin, Mr Warner said: “I think the appropriate sentence in 60 days imprisonment”.

For the drug equipment, Hayward was fined $500 or 30 days imprisonment.

Mr Williams then asked if the 60 days was a suspended sentence, Mr Warner said he didn’t feel there were special circumstances to suspend the sentence.

“I think that is the best this court can do in the circumstances”, he added.