Isle of Wight man jailed for smoking cannabis and flouting court order

By doing so, Christopher Gilbert, formerly of Station Avenue, Sandown — and now of Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope — breached a suspended jail term.

The 35-year-old was sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday, March 8.

At a previous hearing, he admitted possession of an offensive weapon in public, possession of cannabis, and obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty on January 31.

Prosecuting, Berenice Mulvanny, told court how three plain-clothed police officers spotted Gilbert smoking cannabis with another man on Cliff Path in Sandown.

The officers introduced themselves as police, Ms Mulvanny said, and both males were arrested, but Gilbert attempted to run away.

When restrained, the court heard he continued to resist, kicking out and trying to shove police.

Ms Mulvanny said two officers fell to the ground and Gilbert only relented when he was threatened with an incapacitant spray.

He was searched and found in possession of cannabis, two mobile phones and a knife.

His address was later searched and two other knives were found.

By committing the offence, Gilbert, who has 13 previous convictions for 18 offences, was in breach of a suspended sentence handed to him in December 2022 for drug dealing.

Defending, Oscar Vincent, said on the day in question his client was heading to his parents' house when, by chance, he bumped into someone he knew.

Mr Vincent said it was late at night, no one was around and the pair smoked some cannabis.

They were approached by a group of men and claimed they did not know they were police.

Mr Vincent said the knife was in Gilbert's rucksack for a camping trip and was not discovered until they were at Newport Police Station.

Judge David Melville said the breach was "serious" and "deliberate".

He sentenced Gilbert to 14 months in prison.

Christopher Gilbert (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary)