By Drew Sandelands

Copyright glasgowlive

A man who was twice caught with cannabis and a knife in his car can work as a private hire driver after pleading for another chance.

Police Scotland objected to Jerin Benny’s application due to his convictions, but councillors decided to grant a reduced one-year licence.

Glasgow’s licensing committee yesterday heard how Mr Benny had been fined £760 following an incident in November 2020 when cannabis was found in his car.

Police officers passing the applicant’s vehicle noted a “strong smell of cannabis” and discovered “a total of 56.3g of cannabis… with a street value of £310” during a search.

Councillors were told how a lockback knife was found in Mr Benny’s car in November 2021, when police had pulled him over as he was driving with no lights on. He was sentenced to 108 hours of unpaid work.

Then, in January 2023, police officers again “detected a strong smell of cannabis” from Mr Benny’s car, councillors heard. After a search, they found a “total of 144.38g of cannabis, with a street value of £820 within multiple bags”.

Officers also found a lockback knife, with a 1.5 inch blade, in the glovebox, an officer said. Mr Benny was given a restriction of liberty order for 135 days and had to remain in his house between 7pm and 7am.

The applicant also received three points on his licence for “careless and inconsiderate driving” in August last year, the police added.

Ferial El Ayeb, advocating for Mr Benny, suggested young men should be “given a second chance, when they have shown clear evidence of wanting to do better and change their life.”

Ms El Ayeb, who said her firm Liberty Consultancy works closely with Mr Benny’s legal representatives, Aamer Anwar & Co, told councillors she had known the applicant for over 10 years.

She said her company supports young people opening up businesses, adding: “I’ve seen over 100 young people with previous convictions change their life, completely turn it around.”

Speaking about Mr Benny, she said: “His relationship with his family is better, he has moved back in. He has plans to open up a food van. He is looking to save up money to then apply for a licence from the council.

“To me that shows that he is focused on changing his life, creating a better future, as well as staying away from what’s not good for him.”

He plans to use the income from working as a driver to help fund his business, she added. Ms El Ayeb also told councillors the knife had been “the tiniest little blade” which the applicant’s father, who owns a catering company, had used to open up boxes.

She said Mr Benny accepted he should have checked the vehicle, which the whole family used. Mr Benny said: “I’m back with a good crowd, I’ve moved in with my family. I want to make them proud.”

He said he was “not going through a great time” at the time of the offences. Councillors issued the driver with a severe warning over his future conduct.

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