Jamaican Drug Dealer Remains in UK After Cannabis Pledge

Shawn Rickford McLeod, a 40-year-old Jamaican drug dealer, has successfully avoided deportation from the UK after promising a judge he would only smoke cannabis and not sell it. Having lived in the UK since he was 15, McLeod appealed his deportation order, citing his family life and three young children under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Judge David Chaim Brannan ruled that deportation would be 'unduly harsh' on McLeod's family, despite acknowledging concerns about his cannabis use. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the decision as 'mind-boggling' and called for significant reforms to the immigration system, arguing that it prioritizes the rights of foreign criminals over public safety. The case highlights ongoing debates in the UK regarding human rights laws and their implications for immigration policy. Possession of cannabis remains illegal in Britain, with potential prison sentences of up to five years for offenders.