Pubdate: Sat, 24 Aug 2002
Source: East Anglian Daily Times (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Eastern Counties Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.eadt.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/913
Author: Juliette Maxam
Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

CANNABIS GROWER FREED AFTER COURT APPEAL

AN ill pop star who was jailed for growing cannabis has been freed
after a judge reduced his punishment to a conditional discharge.

Lance Ridler, former session guitarist with the award-winning band,
Prodigy, was given a two-month prison sentence, with one month
suspended, by Colchester magistrates this Wednesday.

Ridler had admitted growing cannabis plants at his home in Braintree,
which were discovered by firefighters during a fire which destroyed
his studio last month.

But Ridler claimed the plants were for his own use, to relieve a
neurological disorder which makes his hands and feet go numb and his
chest tighten.

At Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday Recorder Rodger Hayward-Smith
quashed Ridler's prison sentence.

Ridler's defence counsel Marc Cannatella told the court his client was
due to see neurological specialist today to get the urgent results of
an MRI scan which showed he had a problem with either his brain or
spine.

"This is not a man who has gone about to cultivate cannabis to make
any money for it. This is a man whose circumstances suggest a
conditional discharge."

"He's spent three days in custody, confined to his cell. His family
was told he would be put into a hospital wing - that hasn't happened.
He's slept on a very hard mattress for the last three days," said Mr
Cannatella.

"He has a lot of difficulties working. His hands are constantly numb,
as are his feet. His midriff tightens like a tight belt," he added.

After the hearing, Ridler's mother, Rosemary Wood, and fiancee,
Rebecca Cass, complained about how Ridler was treated during his three
days in Chelmsford Prison.

"They told us at court he would go straight to a hospital wing because
of his illness about four times. We rang and we were assured he was in
the hospital wing and he would be given a message to phone home," said
Mrs Wood.

"Then, when we saw him today, we found out he was never given the
message and was in a cell with two other people and only one pillow
between them."

She added: "I'm really cross about it."

Ms Cass said: "We have been out of our minds with worry because of the
test results and this has just made everything worse."

Mrs Wood said she was considering making a complaint to the
prison.

Chelmsford Prison assistant governor James Shanley denied Ridler had
been in a cell with two other people. He said he would look into the
matter.

Neil Orr, chairman of the Board of Visitors, said the prison suffered
from overcrowding which sometimes caused communication problems and
messages not being passed on.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake