Judge hits out at Somerset drug workers

A JUDGE has slammed drug workers for not funding a Yeovil offender’s treatment, against the advice of experts. Daniel Broome, of Newton Road, appeared at Taunton Crown Court on Friday having previously been handed a community order with a drug rehabilitation scheme after being convicted of theft last October.

The court heard Broome breached the order twice and came before the court again in March before he was remanded in custody so he could be assessed for a drug treatment programme.

Broome, 24, was seen by a project worker from social care organisation Turning Point, and drop-in centre officers, who both deemed him a suitable candidate for the treatment.

However, the court was told how the Somerset Residential Funding Panel decided Broome did not meet the strict criteria to be accepted on the scheme with no further explanation as to why.

Judge Graham Hume Jones hit out at the decision and insisted a representative from the funding panel attend court to explain why Broome did not meet the criteria under cross-examination.

Judge Hume Jones said: “I don’t understand how a person in charge of resources can say he doesn’t meet the criteria when experts say he does.

“I would be very grateful if this can be brought to the attention of the public and I hope something will be done about it.”