Judge gives drug user conditional discharge saying ‘he should suffer no more’ than Michael Gove 

A judge has given a drug user conditional discharge after he admitted that ‘he should suffer no more for dabbling in cocaine’ than Michael Gove has.

Giedrius Arbaciauskas had pleaded guilty to possessing 2g of the drug and could have been jailed for up to seven years for the offence.

However Judge Owen Davies QC was lenient with the 28-year-old who lives in Essex and referred to Mr Gove’s admittance of recreational drugs use – before he had become a politician.

Giving the Lithuanian a 12-month conditional discharge he said: ‘He should suffer no more for dabbling in cocaine than should a former Lord Chancellor.’

Judge Owen Davies QC (left) said Giedrius Arbaciauskas shouldn’t suffer any more for possessing cocaine than Michael Gove (right) had

After the hearing barrister Tim Kiely tweeted the verdict and said ‘Who says humour and justice don’t mix’

During the hearing at Inner London Crown Court, he added that no further action would be taken as long as he kept himself out of trouble, The Sun reported.

Ahead of a revelation in a forthcoming biography serialised in the Mail , Gove admitted that he took cocaine on several occasions as a journalist in his 30s. 

The admission, and subsequent howls of hypocrisy, led to many discounting the prominent Leave campaigner as a potential ‘stop Boris’ candidate. 

After the verdict Mr Arbaciauskas’ barrister, Tim Kiely tweeted: ‘Who says humour and justice don’t mix?’

This is not the first time, however, that Judge Davies has made controversial comments in the courtroom.

Just last year he informed jurors that they would have to bring their own packed lunches, as strict Government cuts meant the canteen was no longer open.

The Inner London Crown Court (pictured) heard that no further action would be taken as long as Mr Arbaciauskas kept himself out of trouble