35 years for Sobo killer Neil Crampton

Nov 26 2008 The Journal

Cannabis 'can warp judgment'

THE Sobo tragedy was the second quadruple killing in Newcastle in the second half of 2006 both of which were carried out by habitual cannabis users.

It came four months after former soldier David Bradley shot dead four members of his own family in July that year.

Det Supt Steve Wade said he was not aware of the strength of the cannabis Crampton was using, and that he had not taken any on the night he killed his children, former partner and her brother.

Newcastle Crown Court heard last week he was a heavy cannabis user, at his peak spending up to s50 a week on the drug. Det Supt Wade said: Ive no idea as to the strength and levels of it. There was obvious evidence of habitual use, that came from his own mouth, he told us that. Ive dealt with two quadruple homicides in Newcastle in the last few years both of those have been habitual cannabis users. I cant say any more than that.

Yesterday Professor Heather Ashton, from Newcastle Universitys department of psychiatry, said paranoia was one sympton of regular cannabis use. High use of cannabis can completely warp your judgment. There are a lot of cases where people have used it before committing acts of violence.