A father who wanted 'one last blow-out' at the Creamfields festival was caught with a body wash bottle stuffed with cocaine and 32 ecstasy pills, a court has heard.
Festival Drug Bust
Karl Beever, 37, was entering the dance music festival in Daresbury, Cheshire, on August 25, 2023, when police sniffer dogs indicated he might be carrying illegal substances. A subsequent search uncovered eight bags of cocaine containing a total of 3.15g hidden inside a body wash bottle, along with a further snap bag containing 1.65g of cocaine. Also found were 32 ecstasy pills, commonly sold for between £10 and £50 each.
In a police interview, Beever said Creamfields was supposed to be 'one last blow-out' and that the drugs were for his personal use. However, a search of his mobile phone revealed messages relating to the supply of drugs to a friend.
Guilty Plea and Court Proceedings
Beever later pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine and ecstasy) between August 19 and August 26, 2023. At Liverpool Crown Court on June 26, 2024, defence barrister Charlotte Rimmer said Beever was 'terrified at the prospect of a custodial sentence'. She argued: 'Phone records showed that he had obtained drugs for his friend for no financial gain whatsoever, which the Crown accepts. It only just pushes past a simple possession offence. I do concede the offending is aggravated by the fact that this was at Creamfields Festival and there's clearly a community impact. But for the Creamfields Festival element, this falls right at the bottom of the scale.'
Rimmer added: 'The pre-sentence report suggested Beever presents as an open, honest man who was polite and cooperative throughout, accepts full responsibility, makes no attempt to minimise and has not sought to blame anyone else for his predicament. Since 2023 he is no longer taking any drugs. There has been no further offending and it was obvious from the interview he has reflected on his behaviour.'
Judge's Remarks and Sentence
Sentencing Beever, Recorder Eric Lamb said: 'You went to the Creamfields Festival on August 25, 2023 and the drug dogs there noted that you were in possession of drugs, and police approached you. You said that the drugs were in a deodorant bottle, but in fact it was a body wash bottle with further wraps within that bottle. In the course of the investigation it was discovered there were snap bags of cocaine and a package with ecstasy tablets wrapped in tin foil.'
He continued: 'You were interviewed and described that the Creamfields Festival was to be one last blow out, that you yourself are a drug user and that the drugs were for personal use. However, in due course you pleaded guilty to the charges on a basis of plea. Your basis is that you obtained the cocaine and ecstasy in advance, that on the day before the event your friend contacted you and asked you to source drugs, so you got him drugs. There was no financial advantage to you. On the day you took both the cocaine and ecstasy to the festival for personal use, but you were prepared to share some of these drugs with your circle of friends. That is the basis that the Crown has accepted.'
The court heard Beever, of Willow Drive in Worksop, had three convictions for four past offences, but none were drug-related. Recorder Lamb noted: 'There's evidence of positive good character from the reference advanced on your behalf. It's plain from your actions towards your partner that you are a loving and caring partner, providing a stable home life for the children who rely upon you. I also note these offences date back to August 2023 and there has been no further offending since the commission of these offences.'
He sentenced Beever to a total of 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 10 rehabilitation days and pay court costs.
