Two plead guilty to drugs charges in Gozo

Two men admitted to drugs charges in a Gozo court after they were arrested whilst in possession of  quantities of cocaine and cannabis.

The men were arrested after police from the Drugs Squad had observed their movements for over a week.

Briton Neil Andrew Bebbington, 41, of Zebbug, Gozo appeared in the dock before magistrate Paul Coppini, charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis in circumstances denoting it was not for his personal use. He was also charged with having cultivated cannabis.

Bebbington was arrested yesterday together with Kralev Bagoj, a 20-year-old Bulgarian national who lives in Marsalforn. The latter was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment after pleading guilty in separate proceedings today. 

Bebbington’s lawyer, David Gatt, entered a guilty plea on behalf of the accused and requested the court convert itself into a drugs court, as provided by the Drug Dependence (Treatment not Imprisonment) Act. The court upheld the request and released the man on bail pending sentencing against a deposit of €2000 and a €10,000 personal guarantee.

He is to sign a bail book daily and observe a curfew until the 16th January, when he will be sentenced.

Inspector Anthony Scerri prosecuted.