Ethan Newham, 20, admitted possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs after police recovered bags of white and pink powder at the NX venue on Westgate Road in Newcastle. He was arrested on April 3 this year following a report that he was dealing drugs at the premises.
When officers searched Newham, they found a clear bag containing a number of smaller bags of white and pink powder. An analysis showed the substances were a mixture of MDMA and ketamine. Newham told officers: "That's my life down the drain. I'll never ever sell another drug."
Guilty Plea and Background
Newham, of Chadburn Green, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (MDMA) and possession with intent to supply a Class B drug (ketamine). The court heard he had no previous convictions and intended to sell the drugs directly to users.
However, he had taken full responsibility for his offending and accepted "his conduct was unacceptable". His barrister said his mother had died three years ago, after which he began taking drugs himself, going into a "downward spiral" and associating with a negative peer group.
Sentence and Impact
Since then, Newham had made "significant changes to his lifestyle", starting work as a scaffolder and being assessed as at low risk of reoffending. Passing sentence, Recorder Richard Stubbs said: "To your credit, you accept full responsibility for these offences and you recognise the harm that can be caused by drugs. At the time, you were misusing cocaine and cannabis, that followed the death of your mother three years ago."
He added: "You have made significant changes to your life since that time to address your offending. You no longer associate with that peer group. You continue to work and you are at low risk of reoffending." The court received positive character references and a statement from Newham providing "a sincere apology" and showing regret.
Newham was given a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, alongside a probation requirement, and to pay £600 in costs.
