Possession of Drugs With Intent to Supply

For more than 45 years, JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors has advised and represented clients facing charges relating to the possession and supply of drugs. Our specific expertise dealing with these types of serious drug offences means we can provide the very best support through every stage of criminal proceedings for possession with intent to supply. We are here to protect your legal rights and secure the best available outcome for you.

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If you believe your case is likely to have serious consequences for you now, or in the future and you have the means to pay for this service

Do we offer free consultations?

Our criminal defence solicitors represent clients from all backgrounds facing charges for possession of drugs with intent to supply. With a wide range of languages spoken across the team, we can offer clear, effective advice no matter who you are.

Having secured favourable outcomes from clients facing the most serious and complicated charges connected to the possession and supply of drugs, we have earned a reputation for first class representation in even the most challenging serious drug offences cases.

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options, contact our local offices in London, Birmingham or Manchester.

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Why choose JD Spicer Zeb?

1000's of Cases Dropped
24/7 Emergency Phonelines
100's of Years Combined Experience
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Recent Cases

There is limited recourse for you if you are falsely accused. Click a selection of the cases we have covered. The best thing you can do is to instruct an excellent solicitor from the outset.

See all cases

CPS agree caution - client already charged at Court 2021

Successful Crown Court Appeal - Affray, offensive weapon 2021

Suspended sentence - Drugs supply - 2021

1.1 Tonne Drug Conspiracy Acquittal

R V EW & SC LARGE DRUGS CASE DISMISSED Harrow Crown Court - 2019 - Possession with intent to supply class A - case dismissed

R v SS - NOT GUILTY - Possesion intent supply class A drugs - 2018

Prison Drugs Conspiracy Acquittal

How quickly do you respond?

We respond quickly even during out of hours. We do not get our work by paying for online adverts but based on the fact that few criminal law firms can match our 45 years of experience. Most of our cases are still from word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. We are called daily by dissatisfied clients from firms with less experience than us. We respond very quickly to new enquiries. We know what clients seek and so we update clients rapidly.

Can you get cases dropped?

Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you.

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED -

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about –

Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
Public and private funding benefits.
Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

If we do not intend to take the case on.
Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance.
If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
To businesses.
Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.

Possession of a controlled drug with an intent to supply is one of the most serious criminal offences and if you have been charged with such an offence, obtaining the best criminal defence advice and representation is imperative. At JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, we have over 45 years’ experience in advising clients who have been charged with serious drug offences. We have represented individuals charged with supplying small amounts of drugs, to people involved in organised crime. Not only do our Solicitors have an in-depth understanding of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but we have also developed relationships with some of the most highly skilled criminal barristers in the UK who we can instruct to represent you.

We have offices in London, Birmingham, and Manchester and our team can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency legal advice and representation. If you have been arrested in connection with a suspected drug-related offence, it is crucial to contact us immediately.

Led by our partners, our team can represent you in the Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court. In addition, our team can provide 24-hour police station representation. Because, anything you say or do upon arrest can affect the outcome of your criminal matter, we provide expert advice at a crucial time, ensuring your best interests are always protected.

JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors is Lexcel-accredited, meaning we meet the highest levels of good management and customer care set by the Law Society of England and Wales. In addition, we were awarded the Law Society Excellence in Practice Management Award in 2012. Our expert team speaks multiple languages, and we have approved external interpreters who can assist us if required. By instructing us, you can be assured of receiving some of the most comprehensive, high-quality legal services in the UK.

What is a ‘controlled drug’?

A controlled drug is one where its production, use, and supply is controlled or restricted by legislation such as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. A non-exhaustive list can be found here.

To gain a conviction for possession with intent to supply, points to prove for the prosecution (beyond reasonable doubt) are that:

You were in possession of drugs
The drugs are controlled drugs, and
You intended to supply the drugs to another

These are sometimes referred to as ‘PWITS points to prove’ with PWITS being the acronym for ‘possession with intent to supply’.

Our criminal defence Solicitors have the expertise required to quickly spot any flaws and/or weaknesses in the Prosecution’s case and build a robust defence in your favour. You may wish to plead guilty to being in possession of a controlled drug, but not guilty in terms of having an intent to supply. We will advise you on the best course of action at the outset of your case, to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved.

How does the Prosecution prove ‘intent to supply’?

If you have been charged with intent to supply a controlled drug, the Prosecution does not need to prove you physically passed the control of the drug to another person, only that you intended to do so.

PWITS legislation is clear that supply includes distributing. If you offer your cannabis cigarette to another, you are, in law, supplying the other person with a controlled drug. An exchange of money is not required, and profit will only be relevant to the sentence you receive should you be convicted.

Prosecutions in possession with intent to supply trials are often based on circumstantial evidence and/or statements made by the defendant at the time of arrest or during the course of a police interview. Even a seemingly innocent statement such as “I was looking after these LSD tablets for a friend” could result in a charge of intent to supply. For this reason, it is vital that you make no statement without having one of our team present. We can engage in strategic negotiations with the Prosecution to reduce the charge from the possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply to one of possession for personal use.

To prove the defendant is dealing drugs, the Prosecution will attempt to put forward many different types of evidence. Your property will most likely be searched, and the Prosecution may use any of the following finds to gain a conviction for intent to supply:

Drugs paraphernalia (including electronic scales, cling film, and small bags used to package and distribute drugs)
Large amounts of cash
Cutting agents
Lists of names and amounts of money owed
Mobile telephone records and/or text messages
Evidence (either from witnesses or CCTV) of the defendant regularly meeting many individuals, often for short amounts of time, and
Evidence of an extravagant lifestyle.

It is important to note that a lack of such evidence as listed above can be used to build a strong defence. At JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, we will carefully gain all the information relevant to your case in order to swiftly establish if there is a lack of circumstantial evidence to point to an intent to supply.

How can I defend a charge of possession with intent to supply?

Section 28 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 provides a defence to the charge of possession with intent to supply if the accused did not know, nor suspect, nor have reason to suspect the existence of some fact used by the Prosecution to gain a conviction.

To gain a conviction, the Prosecution must prove you intended to supply the drugs to another person. Our Solicitors have the expertise and experience to create a strong defence that there is no evidence to suggest that you had the requisite intent to supply drugs.

What are the possession with intent to supply defences?

Further to the information above, there are various specific defence strategies that can be used in relation to a possession with intent to supply charge.

Some common defences against a possession with intent to supply charge include:

That you were not aware that you were in possession of a drug (e.g. if you believe someone planted the drugs on you)
That you were not aware that the drugs in your possession were controlled substances (e.g. you thought they were something legal, like paracetamol)
That you were acting under duress (i.e. someone else was forcing you to take possession of and/or supply the drugs to others)

Exactly what defence strategies you can rely on and how effective they are likely to be is highly dependent on the specific circumstances of your case, so for this reason, it is especially important to have the best possible legal defence team.

Will I be tried in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court?

The offence of possession with intent to supply is triable in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court. However, if the offence is one where the sentence is of at least seven years’ imprisonment, the case will be indictable only, which means it must be tried in the Crown Court. In practice, it is very rare for a case involving Class A or B drugs not to be sent to the Crown Court by a Magistrate.

Will I go to prison if convicted for possession with intent to supply?

Many factors influence the sentence applied to a conviction of possession of drugs with intent to supply. These include the street value of the drugs, how far up the supply chain you are, the amount of drugs involved, and whether you have had previous convictions.

The maximum custodial sentences are as follows:

Class A drugs – on indictment - life imprisonment, in the Magistrates’ Court six months
Class B drugs – on indictment - 14 years, in the Magistrates’ Court six months, and
Class C drugs – on indictment - 14 years, in the Magistrates’ Court three months

If you are convicted of possession with intent to supply, it is likely an application for proceedings will be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for the confiscation of any benefit you gained from the criminal conduct.

Our Solicitors will adduce any mitigating factors which may reduce the sentence handed down if you are convicted and ensure they are presented to the Court in a persuasive manner.

Can I appeal the Court’s decision?

You can appeal against your conviction or sentence or both. We will explain your appeal rights to you and ensure you fully understand the options available. If you choose to appeal, we will make the application to the Court within the relevant time limit and ensure your appeal is run effectively, with the relevant matters robustly argued.

Contact our criminal law defence solicitors today

If you have been charged with possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, you must seek experienced legal advice immediately. For urgent specialist advice, prompt representation or to speak to us confidentially about any criminal matter, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham and Manchester by telephone:

City of London: 0207 624 7771 - our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the city.
Brent & Camden London Office: 0207 624 7771
Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

In Urgent Cases

For immediate representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556, and we will provide you with the urgent assistance you need.

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