Accrington dealer avoids jail

2:20pm Saturday 5th July 2008

Comments (4)   Have your say »

A man who supplied what he thought was ecstasy to undercover police in an Accrington bar has walked free from court.

Christopher McPhail, 18, actually sold the cops tablets which were ketamine, an anaesthetic, and a substance called BZP, which together mimicked the effects of ecstasy, Burnley Crown Court heard.

McPhail denied making any profit from the venture and later told police he had sold on behalf of a friend in return for tablets for his own use. He said he had only done it once on that day and had not sold what he thought were drugs to anybody else.

The defendant, of Hartley Avenue, Accrington, admitted attempting to supply ecstasy last November. Recorder Susan Grocott, QC, gave him 48 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months supervision, 80 hours unpaid work and £350 costs.

Mercedeh Jabbari, prosecuting, told the court at 10.40pm two police officers, one of them posing as a test puchaser, were deployed in Accrington and made their way to the Regency pub.

On arrival they were approached by the defendant who they recognised as they had spoken to him before. McPhail offered the officers some pills which they understood to mean ecstasy.

Miss Jabbbari said the test puchaser went to the toilets with the officer, a price was discussed and the defendant said the pills would cost £2 each. The undercover officer bought four.

Cash was exhanged in the toilet cubicle and all parties then left the premises. The defendant was arrested on December 13 and taken to the police station.

The prosecutor said forensic tests showed the tablets contained ketamine and BZP. McPhail admitted he had effectively sold the officer the drug and maintained he had done it on behalf of a friend. He said he wasn't making a profit and would get paid in pills.