Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc. Contact: 300 - 1450 Don Mills Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3R5 Fax: (416) 442-2209 Feedback: http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary.asp?s2letters Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~nationalpost Author: Ron Corbett, Paul Waldie and Chris Tenove-National Post; Sue Clough, The Daily Telegraph (UK) 'I WANT MUMMY,' SCREAMS BOY SENTENCED FOR DRUG DEALING TRIED, CONVICTED AT AGE 12 LONDON - A boy in England who moved a judge to tears after being convicted of drug dealing at the age of 12 was carried from the dock yesterday kicking, screaming and crying for his mother as he began a two-year sentence. The boy skipped school to cycle between customers with sweets in one pocket and crack cocaine, heroin and hundreds of pounds cash in the other. He is believed to be the youngest dealer to come before the courts in Britain. When the boy, now 13 but small for his age, was found guilty at an earlier trial, Judge Quentin Campbell said: "After 20 years on one sort of bench or another I never thought I would be presiding over the trial of a 12-year-old for dealing in the most dangerous drugs available.'' The judge, a father of six, then took off his wig, wiped his eyes, turned to the jury and said: "Isn't it sad.'' Sentencing the boy, who stood crying in the dock at Inner London Crown Court, the judge told him yesterday: "Deterrence is paramount. Any sentence that might be looked on as an encouragement to very young defendants to deal in drugs, or encourages older and unscrupulous dealers to make use of very young persons as a tool in their trade, would cause complete havoc. There can be no other sentence other than a substantial imprisonment.'' "You were stopped by the police and found with 400 pounds on you, together with 4.5 grams of crack cocaine and 0.7 grams of heroin. Crack cocaine and heroin are the two most common and most dangerous drugs available. Judge Campbell said the jury had "quite rightly'' rejected his defence of duress because the boy, although not the prime mover, was "a perfectly willing participant.'' A boy aged 15, who was arrested with him but not charged through lack of evidence, may well have been "using you because of your age,'' he said. "You will not serve your sentence in a young offenders' institution but in an appropriate, therapeutic, secure institution so that you get guidance, education and help that will set you on the right road.'' As the cell door opened, the boy turned toward his mother and screamed: "I want to see my mummy, I want my mummy.'' He continued to scream as he struggled, and kicked court officials before falling to the floor still struggling. He was eventually carried out. Outside court his mother, a 41-year-old single parent from south London, said: "It shows the way society is going. It makes me sick that a 12-year-old can end up embroiled in drugs.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck