‘You’ll be with the dregs of society’
JUDGE WARNS OFFENDER HE WOULD GO TO JAIL NEXT TIME
A JUDGE warned of the deadly risk of the drug ecstasy as he imposed a suspended jail term on a nightclub goer.
Daniel Stockton, 22, admitted offering the drug in the club Stealth while visiting the city from his Liverpool home.
At Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Stuart Rafferty QC told him: “There are far too many people in this country who think ecstasy and similar drugs are just recreational – fun.
“They kill people with alarming regularity,” said the judge.
A 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, was ordered for Stockton of Sandham Grove, Heswall, Liverpool.
He must spend 20 days with probation officers. The judge said that people could expect to be sent to prison immediately if they were part of “a real network”. Jail terms range between three and seven years.
Stockton had never been in trouble before and the judge said he should expect to be locked up if he offended again.
“You will be banged up with the dregs of society. It is a guaranteed route to disaster.
“Prison is a place which you can’t begin to imagine in terms of its horror,” said the judge. He ordered Stockton to have monthly drug tests while his progress was reviewed in Liverpool.
If there was a breach of the terms of the sentence, the judge said Stockton would be returned to Nottingham, adding: “You will set your life on a course from which there will be no return.”
James Allan, prosecuting, said Stockton had the drug MDMA – ecstasy – which could have been sold for more than £200.
His mobile phone was seized and it contained messages which appeared to be linked to drug supply. One said: “Will sort you out easy.”
Another text read: “Just waiting for the post to arrive, hopefully got an ounce MD arriving which will pay for me through tonight.” When questioned by police, Stockton declined to answer.
The judge ordered the confiscation of Stockton’s phone.
Adrian Langdale, mitigating, said: “He has been attending a drug misuse group and returning negative samples.”