Aspiring lawyer handed career lifeline by judge — but is it already too late?
A BPP University Law School student who was caught with £1,120 worth of cannabis stuffed in the roof of his car has been spared jail in order to continue pursing a career in law.
In March, Firase Morgan — who is a current LLB student at BPP in London — was caught supplying cannabis to a barmaid at an upmarket boozer in Knightsbridge. Becoming suspicious of Morgan’s behaviour, police searched his vehicle that was parked outside, and discovered 28 wraps of cannabis hidden in the roof lining. A further search of Morgan’s bedroom revealed £1,000 in cash.
Claiming that the money was his only source of “student finance”, the 25 year-old pleaded guilty earlier this month to possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and to supplying a Class B drug .
Yesterday at Isleworth Crown Court Judge Robert Winstanley handed down a 12 month custodial sentence — suspended for two years — and 120 hours’ community service. He told the young law student:
I’ll give you this opportunity to pick things up in your life and continue with your studies and career ambitions and address your cannabis addiction.
Prior to his run in with the law, the aspiring lawyer appeared to be a model student. Not only did he stand in two City of Westminster council elections in 2014 on behalf of Labour, Morgan was also an ambassador for London-based legal charity Just for Kids Law.
However, according to the Evening Standard, this isn’t Morgan’s first brush with the law. During sentencing yesterday it emerged that the BPP law student had a previous conviction for robbery. Winstanley told Morgan:
You are saved from a custodial sentence by three things: You have got problems and have done something to address them. You have pleaded guilty and your record does not help you, but it is seven or eight years since you were last involved, when you spent a period in custody for robbery.
Pleading guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, Morgan had — rather cheekily — reportedly complained that his sentencing clashed with a holiday he had booked to Andorra. Having presumably missed his jolly abroad, the lucky law student has been given a second chance at a career in law. However many might argue that with two serious convictions to his name his options are severely limited.
Previously:
BPP law student caught dealing cannabis to fund lawyer dream [Legal Cheek]