Cannabis dealer Ryan Fulcher, of Worcester, told to do unpaid work

Ryan Fulcher, of Nibley Close, Worcester, challenged magistrates who just moments earlier had spared him jail. 

Azeifna Adams, prosecuting, said police attended Fulcher's home on August 15 last year for an unrelated matter. 

Miss Adams said after Fulcher was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing they seized his phone.

COURT: Ryan Fulcher has been sentenced for cannabis drug dealing (Image: Facebook)

As the officer had the phone a text related to drug dealing popped up on the device. 

The phone was later analysed and the prosecutor went through the numerous messages related to drug dealing, including ones where Fulcher's customers asked him for weed. 

Miss Adams said drug paraphernalia was also seized from Fulcher's home.

The prosecutor said Fulcher was a street dealer but she had difficulty placing his case in the sentencing guidelines as some elements pointed to him having a significant role and others a lesser role in the operation. 

Mark Sheward, defending Fulcher, said he had only been dealing to friends. 

"He was supplying cannabis so that he could get his for free," the solicitor said. 

"He accepts responsibility. He has no convictions, he has never been in trouble at all."

DEALER: Ryan Fulcher (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

The solicitor argued it was a lesser role so a community penalty was more suitable than custody. 

A probation service representative said the dad-of-two had mental health issues which was why he had taken drugs, and Fulcher had indicated any therapy offered would not be engaged with.

After magistrates deliberations, Andrew Greenway, chairman of the magistrates bench, announced Fulcher was receiving a 12-month community order.

The order requires him to do 100 hours of unpaid work as well as 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. 

COURT: Worcester Magistrates Court

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Fulcher was also ordered to pay costs of £185 and victim surcharge of £114. 

An offer to pay the total, £299, at a rate of £20 a month was accepted by magistrates. 

At the end of the sentence, Fulcher questioned what the rehabilitation days would be about, saying there would be personal things he would not want to talk about, and also questioned the number of hours of unpaid work. 

"I'm definitely not going to get a full-time job now," Fulcher said. 

The chairman urged Fulcher to engage with the probation service adding: "Work with them, they are there to help you."

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