Youth had drugs

Recorder Arthur Noble told Carl Williams, 18, he had been dealing on a social basis and was not in the business of making profit from drugs in the sinister sense -- but there could be no other sentence than custody.

The judge warned the defendant, found with ecstasy on him, to stay clear of drugs on his release.

Clarkson, of Wordsworth Road, Accrington, had admitted possessing ecstasy with intent to supply and possessing cannabis.

Fraser Livesey, prosecuting, said a doorman at Lar de Dars nightclub, in Accrington, saw a group of males on the dance floor. One appeared to be giving the defendant money and having something passed back to him.

The bouncer approached the defendant and saw him put something in his pocket. He took Williams to search him and the defendant took something from his pocket and tried to put it into his mouth. His hand was knocked away and a plastic bag containing 26 ecstasy tablets fell on to the floor.

A small amount of cannabis was also found.

Mr Livesey said police were called, but a search of the defendant's home revealed nothing of any interest. The value of one tablet of ecstasy in the Accrington area was £5.

Anthony Cross, defending, said Williams' crime was borne of an immature escapade.

He and his friends used ecstasy from time to time, they learned of a supplier in Haslingden and, rather than the group travelling there, Williams went to Haslingden himself. He returned that night to the club and began to divide out the drugs he had bought. The search of his home revealed absolutely no drug-dealing paraphernalia.

Williams was working and feared a custodial sentence.

Mr Cross added it may be that because of the immaturity referred to in his pre-sentence report, the social nature of the supply and because of the defendant's guilty plea, that probation was appropriate.