A Spalding man who failed to attend a sentencing hearing at Lincoln Crown Court has had an arrest warrant issued against him.
Thomas Parr, 28, was due before the court on Friday, September 4, after previously pleading guilty to possessing cannabis. The hearing was arranged so the court could sentence him after probation and mental health reports had been prepared.
Cannabis found at The Meadows flat
Parr was arrested after police found 206g of cannabis at his flat in The Meadows, Spalding, on the afternoon of April 26. Officers attended the property and found Parr there, while quantities of the Class B drug were located in several parts of the flat.
The court heard that cannabis was found in the kitchen, as well as in shoeboxes and bags. The report does not say that the court concluded the drugs were intended for supply. During a police interview, Parr said the cannabis was for his own personal use.
He admitted using cannabis and told police he smoked it to relieve back pain and help deal with anxiety. The source report spells the word “anixiety”, but this article uses the standard spelling.
Guilty plea breached suspended sentence
Parr pleaded guilty to possessing the drug when he appeared before Lincoln Crown Court earlier in the year. That guilty plea left him in breach of a 20-month suspended prison sentence imposed by the same court in June 2025.
The sentence for the cannabis offence had been adjourned until September 4. The delay allowed probation and mental health reports to be prepared before the court decided what action to take.
Defence told court he was unwell
Parr did not attend the scheduled hearing, although the court was told he had been informed of the date by both his solicitor and a mental health liaison worker.
His defence barrister, Sam Lowne, told the hearing that Parr had provided information saying he was unwell and unable to obtain transport to court. The supplied report does not provide further details about his illness or the transport problem.
Recorder Graham Huston issued a bench warrant for Parr’s arrest. In doing so, the judge noted that Parr had already been given “the greatest benefit of doubt.”
The warrant means Parr is wanted so the court can deal with his failure to attend and proceed with the outstanding sentencing matter. The report does not state when the warrant will be executed, when Parr will next appear in court or what sentence he may receive.