Louis Lee, 19, was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of cocaine and MDMA hidden down his trousers at a dance music event in Liverpool. However, a judge spared him immediate imprisonment after noting his immediate realisation that he had to change his ways.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that security at Blackstone Street Warehouse, which was hosting a set by French DJ and producer I Hate Models, were alerted to Lee's activities by another eventgoer who stated the defendant was 'bang at it' on November 22 last year. Staff approached the now 19-year-old, who attempted to run away but was detained.
Discovery of Drugs
Iain Criddle, prosecuting, described how a search resulted in the discovery of seven bags of cocaine, worth £280 to £400, from Lee's trousers alongside around 50 MDMA tablets, valued at between £250 and £500. With £40 cash also seized, a search of his home address recovered plastic bags of the 'sort frequently used by those responsible for selling drugs'.
Mr Criddle added: 'The defendant was retailing controlled drugs to end users. He was doing so in anticipation of significant financial advantage. It is aggravated, I would submit, by the fact that he was dealing at a music venue. He thought it was an easy way of making money to fund his own drug use.'
Defendant's Background and Mitigation
Lee, of Dolphin Crescent in Ellesmere Port, submitted in a basis of plea that he had used drugs on a recreational basis since around 2024. He stated he intended to supply the cocaine and MDMA to friends and other attendees to generate profits of around £500.
Jason Smith, defending, told the court: '18 years of age at the time this offending was committed, clearly immature, clearly facing a number of issues in his life in terms of ADHD and sleep issues. Within weeks of his arrest, he had self referred to a drug counselling agency and engaged on every occasion, in effect, with treatment, with guidance, with counselling.'
'It was an immediate realisation that he had to do something, because there was a drug problem. He knew that he faced the real possibility of going into a custodial environment, despite his good character, despite the positive things that people say about him.'
Smith added that Lee had found employment and was thriving, describing him as 'a thoroughly decent young man' who had committed extremely serious criminal offences.
Sentencing
Lee admitted possession of cocaine and MDMA with intent to supply. Appearing in the dock wearing a navy blue fleece over a shirt and tie, he was handed 32 months in a young offenders' institute suspended for three years with 120 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days and £500 in court costs.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Harris said: 'Your basis of plea was accepted by the prosecution and sets out that you were an active supplier of class A drugs at a venue in Liverpool. This was not a one off. You would respond to orders that were made and sell to other individuals outside of your social circle.'
'I note that, in the past, you have used cocaine, ketamine, nitrous oxide and cannabis. You made the conscious decision to deal drugs to make money and fund your own drug abuse. You had, in effect, your own small criminal business. You had your own criminal connections, from whom you purchased drugs, presumably at a discounted amount. You had no thought at all to the consequences of what you were doing.'
Judge Harris highlighted the aggravating factors of dealing at a public venue with two types of drugs, but also noted Lee's youth, his addiction, his full-time honest employment, and the strong family support. He concluded: 'You are, on one view, fortunate that the law altered earlier this year. That means a suspended sentence can now be for up to three years. Before that change in law, you would be going straight into a young offenders' institute. There is a door to your left that leads to the cells, which you can expect if you do not engage with probation.'
