October 30, 2018 2.51 pm This story is over 65 months old

Lincoln teenage drug dealer avoids jail

Nightclub staff caught him with drugs
| Photo: Stock

A teenager who sold ketamine in Lincoln to fund his own weekend drugs habit has avoided jail.

Harry McCarthy, 19, of Hadrians Walk, North Hykeham, admitted supplying the Class B drug to people he knew for several weeks.

Lincoln Crown Court heard how McCarthy was caught after being detained by nightclub security staff with a small bag of ketamine on October 27, 2017.

When he was caught, he thought that he would be let off as it was “only one gram” of drugs.

Following a search at Lincoln police station McCarthy was found to have three grams of ketamine in five wraps and a small amount of cocaine consistent with personal use.

During his police interview, McCarthy said that £1,000 found in his bedroom belonged to his mother and gave no account for the ketamine in his possession.

In his plea the teenager admitted supplying drugs at weekend parties to cover the cost of his own use.

Karen Walton, mitigating for McCarthy, told the court: “He had no previous convictions and there was not a large amount of text messages linking him to supplying ketamine to people he did not know.

“He is in work, he still maintains that work and his ambition is to be a joiner with his own company.”

McCarthy was sentenced to a 12 month community order and must complete 180 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty.

Recorder Paul Mann QC, in passing sentence, told McCarthy: “You are able to avoid a custodial sentence because of your guilty pleas and lack of previous convictions.

“It is clear from the texts it was not a one off. You appear to have a lot going for you. You are fortunate to have a future. You have just started an apprenticeship in a career you wanted.”