Our client was charged with possession of various drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycontin, and ketamine. While this might not seem like a noteworthy case, the circumstances underscore a crucial aspect of our work.

Initially, another firm represented our client at the police station, but they contacted Jonathan Mellody upon a strong recommendation. Jonathan promptly met with the client and quickly determined that this was not a typical case. The defendant’s life had spiralled out of control following the breakdown of his marriage and he turned to a heavy amount of drugs to ease the pain.

Court proceedings

Given that the client was undeniably in possession of the drugs, there was no point in contesting the charges in court. However court proceedings aren’t solely about judging guilt versus innocence it is also about sentencing. Therefore Jonathan enlisted Samantha Gilmour to advocate on behalf of the client at Bromley Magistrates Court. Together, they worked diligently to secure the lightest possible sentence. Through an early guilty plea and compelling mitigation, they succeeded in obtaining a conditional discharge, allowing the client to return to work.

A conditional discharge is granted when a person is convicted of an offence but is not punished, provided they do not re-offend during a specified period. It also means that as long as the defendant remains out of trouble, they are not required to disclose the conviction after the same period has passed. This was the best possible outcome, preventing our client from being criminalised for a lapse during an extremely traumatic period in his life.