Radio 1 DJ jailed for four years for cannabis possession
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2008 17:21
The DJ was sentenced to four years in prison
Radio 1 DJ Grooverider has been jailed for four years after admitting cannabis possession.
The DJ, real name Raymond Bingham, was sentenced in Dubai today.
Bingham, 40, was arrested on November 23rd last year after being caught with 2.16 grams of cannabis at Dubai International Airport.
He later claimed the drugs were found in the pocket of a pair of trousers that he had forgotten about.
"Grooverider has paid a very high price for a serious mistake", a Radio 1 spokesman said.
Bingham had presented a drum and bass show on Radio 1, alongside fellow DJ Fabio, between 02:00 and 04:00 GMT on a Sunday morning.
The DJ will remain in custody having not been in court to hear the sentencing. He now has two weeks to appeal.
Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates federation, has a zero tolerance drug policy.
"This is the minimum that you get by law but we will do our best, especially since he confessed and has cooperated with the authorities," defence lawyer Mohammed Suweidi told the Reuters news agency.