Solicitor breaks into Latin as former drug-dealer is sentenced for latest offence

A solicitor broke into Latin as his former drug-dealing client was sentenced after being caught with a few pounds worth of cannabis.Tyrone Gray, 24, of Rope Walk in North Lynn, appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday, where he was handed a three-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to possession of a Class B drug.The court heard that police executed a warrant at his address on March 15 last year, where they found Gray in his living room with a small amount of cannabis – worth £2 – rolled into a joint.

This was seized, and he was arrested.Crown prosecutor Stephen Munton told magistrates that Gray was previously handed a three-year prison sentence in 2023 for drug-dealing.Mitigating, duty solicitor Andrew Cogan said this history contributed to Gray being arrested. “I am tempted to delve into Latin,” he said.“De minimis non curat lex – the law does not concern itself with trifles. “He accepts he was in possession of the cannabis. It was a rolled-up joint – nothing more than that.”Gray was handed no court costs because of his limited means, but will pay a £26 victim surcharge.The drugs will be forfeited and destroyed.