GP sent daughter cannabis, court told

A DOCTOR prescribed cannabis to her daughter three times daily to alleviate an illness, a court was told yesterday.

Dr Anne Campbell Biezanek, 65, faces five charges relating to possession of, supplying and intent to supply cannabis resin to her daughter.

Lucy Biezanek, 33, has been suffering from a serious and intractable illness for 13 years. Dr Biezanek, a practising GP, admits supplying the controlled drug but has entered a defence of 'necessity' or 'duress of circumstances'. Michael Abelson, for the prosecution, said Dr Biezanek may rely on this defence only if she had to act to avoid death or serious bodily harm to her daughter.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how packages of cannabis which the doctor sent to her daughter were intercepted by police at a post office.

Mr Abelson also read the statement of Lucy's doctor in Scotland, Dr Pamela Barker, who told how she had received a package containing the cannabis resin.

She handed the package to police in Scotland. Dr Biezanek was arrested at her home in Manor Road, Wallasey, Merseyside, in February 1992.

Police Sergeant Beverley Powell, giving evidence, said the doctor made no attempt to deny the allegations. When the interview terminated, she asked if she could have the piece of cannabis back.

The trial continues.