Reading Crown Court: Thatcham drug dealer jailed in 'sad case'

A DRUG dealer has been jailed after being caught trying to drive while high on ketamine.

The dissociative anaesthetic can cause bizarre hallucinations and distortions of reality.

Police were so concerned about Mark Chambers' behaviour and state of mind that they handcuffed him after following his Volkswagen Golf before stopping to question him.

Sarita Basra, prosecuting, said police had been on mobile patrol in Thatcham when they became suspicious of the 25-year-old, whose address was variously given as Mount Road and also as Victor Road, because of his driving.

She added: "They followed him into Vincent Road, then Mount Road and then into a car park.

"The interior light was on; the defendant was slumped in the driver's seat and when they spoke to him he was slurring his words."

Nearby was a mobile phone with white powder residue on it, the court heard.

Ms Basra said: "They handcuffed him because they were worried his behaviour was unpredictable."

Police then found a quantity of the Class B controlled drug, ketamine, plus multiple 'deal' bags of cocaine, together worth hundreds of pounds, she added.

Officers also seized £130 in cash.

More cocaine and ketamine were found stashed in his underwear.

Chambers admitted being concerned in the supply of ketamine and possessing the Class A controlled drug, cocaine, with intent to supply it, on November 1, 2019.

He also has previous convictions for offences including burglary, fraud, handling stolen goods, drink-driving and possessing cannabis, said Ms Basra.

Sarah McIntyre, defending, said her client had become addicted and was selling the substances, not to make vast profits, but to pay off his own substantial drug debts.

Although his family did not condone his actions, she added, his parents, sister and cousins were in court to support him.

Ms McIntyre went on to say the family had become extremely concerned about Chambers as his weight plummeted and he became more distant from them due to his drug habits.

They are now reconciled; Chambers had kicked drugs and had started his own business, the court heard.

Ms McIntyre pleaded with the court to impose a community penalty with unpaid work and curfew requirements instead of a custodial sentence.

But after reading pre-sentence reports, Judge Edward Burgess told Chambers: "You were trying to meet a debt you had amassed.

"But it's clear you had some understanding of the scale of the operation in which you were involved."

He said the fact that Chambers had kicked drugs, reconciled with his family and started his own business were mitigating factors.

However, he concluded: "This is a sad case and it gives me no pleasure to pass this sentence - but this is the least sentence I can pass, following the guidelines as I must."

Chambers was jailed for 30 months, half of which he will spend in custody and the remainder on licence in the community.