YOUNG SCIENTIST WHO BECAME DRUG DEALER IS SHOWN LENIENCY AS HE 'COULD BE USEFUL TO SOCIETY'

• Doctor's son has masters in bio-chemistry and is studying for PhD
  

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 10:38 PM on 24th June 2011

Not going down: Edward Holland leaves court after being given a suspended sentence

A young scientist who became a cocaine dealer walked free yesterday – because his talents could benefit society.

Doctor’s son Edward Holland, 24, was an academic high-flyer with a promising career ahead of him in research.

But he turned to drugs and started dealing cocaine and cannabis to fund his habit.

A court heard he supplied five people over a period of four months, making between £100 and £200 a week.

However his defence lawyer said sending him to prison would be a ‘waste of his potential’.

Tim Evans said: ‘He has a masters degree in bio-chemistry and is studying for a PhD.

‘He has a lot to offer the scientific community and may well be able to use his scientific ability to benefit other people.

‘He comes from a very caring and devoutly religious family.’

Holland, of Cathays, Cardiff, admitted possessing and supplying cannabis and possessing and offering to supply cocaine.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid community work.

Lord Justice Hughes told him: ‘You are clearly a highly intelligent young man and you have a choice about the direction your life may take.

‘You can choose to become a successful scientist with all the rewards that may bring.

‘Or you can become a drug dealer and serve increasingly long sentences in jail.’

The court heard that Holland, a chemistry graduate, had been using cannabis for eight years and became addicted two years ago.

He was caught when police pulled over his Renault Clio and smelled cannabis.

They found £820 in cash, 6.89g of cannabis and 1.7g of cocaine.

There were more than 500 text messages on his mobile phone arranging drug deals.

Critical: Tory MP David Davies said there should not be one rule for the middle classes and one rule for everyone else

The Conservative MP for Monmouth, David Davies, criticised the sentence. He said: ‘If you commit an imprison-able offence you should serve jail time. Simple as that.

‘Otherwise it will be one rule for the middle classes and one rule for everyone else.’

Janet Roberts, of Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline, said: ‘Edward Holland had a great deal going for him in his life, which should have given him the ability to make the right choices in life.

‘A lot of our callers do not have such a start to their early lives and they also make bad choices, but we do not see them being given the same lenient sentences.’