Judge ‘ lets off ’cocaine dealing private schoolgirl to protect her career
A FORMER private schoolgirl who helped her brother supply cocaine to students was spared jail after arguing it would blight her future career.
Poppy Murray, 22, acted as a go-between for her 19-yearold sibling Joel and did not see ‘anything morally wrong’ with providing the drug to friends, a court heard.
But, insisted her lawyer, being put behind bars would jeopardise her prospects and she now realised her actions were wrong.
Richard English described his client as ‘a very clever, ambitious and driven young lady’ who was making money from a fledgling catering business and studying events management at university.
The former pupil at £10,000-ayear St Bede’s Roman Catholic College, Manchester, admitted supplying cocaine and was given a 12- month sentence suspended for 18 months.
Her brother, who had ambitions to join the Army, pleaded guilty to the same crime and was jailed for seven years after police seized drugs worth nearly £15,000.
The pair were arrested after a raid on their semi- detached suburban family home in Middleton, Manchester, in 2014 following a tip-off.
Amphetamines were found stuffed in a freezer and Joel Murray’s mobile phone showed evidence of a £750 cocaine deal.
He had sent a group text message to 16 friends saying that he had a high-purity haul of the drug and offering to sell it. He said: ‘Yo it’s Joel – some killer raw there yo.’
in another exchange, using slang for the drug, Joel Murray texted ‘Who wants sniff?’ to his sister when she was at a party.
He then arranged for cocaine to be delivered to the event, the court heard. According to his sister’s open Facebook profile, she works in the events team at the four-star Midland Hotel in Manchester where David and Samantha Cameron have stayed during Conservative conferences.
Her social media pictures show her drinking champagne on a balcony at a city centre apartment and partying with friends at music festivals.
Her brother’s Facebook page shows him on a snowboarding holiday and drinking cocktails in an exclusive restaurant.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing 2,030 MDMA tablets worth £6,090 and 606g of cannabis worth £8,480 found hidden in a bucket in his wardrobe during another police search.
Officers had targeted the family home after they suspected another family member was supplying amphetamines, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester was told.
in his plea for clemency for Poppy Murray, Mr English said her arrest had led her to suffer from eczema and anxiety.
‘Using recreational drugs as students is not exceptional,’ he told the court. ‘Miss Murray did not see anything morally wrong with what she did.
‘However she now accepts plainly that it was wrong. The money was pooled and the drugs were shared. A prison sentence would be a punishment but it would do nothing but blight a very bright career. She is a very clever, ambitious and driven young lady.’
Mr English said his client had been forced to quit a course in Leeds due to anxiety following her arrest. He added that ‘to her credit’ she is continuing her degree in Manchester and is set to receive a good grade.
‘She works at a city centre hotel and i am told that she is very good at what she does,’ continued Mr English.
‘She has also set up her own business with her friend. They cook 200 meals a week and are already making money.’
Poppy Murray was also ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work by Recorder Eric Lamb.
in defence of her brother, lawyer Henry Blackshaw cited his ‘lack of maturity’ and guilt at his sibling being in court.
‘She is clever and ambitious’