Hunstanton chef caught with cannabis while police searched house

A town chef was caught with Class B drugs while a search was undertaken at his house.

Kamruz Zaman, 32, of Waveney Road in Hunstanton, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with possession of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to the offence, which he committed on June 24. Crown prosecutor Emma Pocknell said that on that date, Zaman’s home address was searched by police for an unrelated matter.

During that operation, officers uncovered a snap bag containing a quantity of cannabis – and Zaman confirmed that it belonged to him.

He has committed previous drug-related offences, with the last of those in 2020.

Mitigating, George Sorrell said: “It is a very minor quantity of cannabis. It has become a habit, and he has admitted that to me.

“It is not something he is proud of. It could become his way of life.

“I know he has had trouble with this before.”

The solicitor told magistrates that Zaman moved to Hunstanton from Bangladesh with his mother at the age of two, and is currently a chef at an Indian restaurant in the town.

He described him as a “good son”, but said he has struggled since his mother died two years ago – and has been enrolled in counselling.

“He speaks well of Hunstanton, and his neighbours and the population there,” Mr Sorrell added.

Magistrates, led by Martin Redhead, fined Zaman £233 for his offence.

He will also pay £145 in legal costs and a £93 victim surcharge, while an order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.