Student drug dealer jailed after being caught with £11,000 worth of ketamine and ecstasy at Leeds Festival

A student who was caught with more than £11,000 worth of drugs at Leeds Festival has been sent to prison
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Daniel Matthews was arrested at the music festival in Bramham in 2018 after being detained by security staff who became suspicious of his behaviour

The 23-year-old graduate was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, three counts of supplying a class A drug, one of possession of a class B drug with intent to supply and one of supplying a class B drug.

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Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said Matthews, who was described as a recreational drug user, was caught with 125 MDMA deals in different forms and 19 deals of ketamine.

Daniel Matthews was caught with £11,000 worth of drugs at Leeds Festival.Daniel Matthews was caught with £11,000 worth of drugs at Leeds Festival.
Daniel Matthews was caught with £11,000 worth of drugs at Leeds Festival.

Mr Sharp said the defendant appeared to have been selling drugs to "all and sundry".

His mobile phone was seized and contained text messages relating to the supply of drugs.

Matthews had already made more than £1,000 by that point and was due to make a total of between £6,800 and £11,400.

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Michelle Turner, mitigating, said the offending was out of character for the defendant.

Ms Turner said Matthews had never dealt drugs before the festival.

The barrister said Matthews became involved in the offending after his father had died a year earlier and he wanted to be able to support himself financially.

The court heard Matthews went on to complete his degree after his arrest and has obtained a job in the construction industry.

His employer provided a character reference to the court.

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Read more: Drug driver hit pedestrian during dangerous police chase then stole £9,000 worth of tyres from bus manufacturing firmMs Turner said: "This is a young man who felt he had to take on responsibility for his family.

"He felt he was being a burden to his mother while he was a student. This was for financial gain.

"He is a remarkable man in many ways who made a foolish decision."

Sentencing, Judge Simon Batiste said: "This is a serious offence of its type.

"It was a significant amount of drugs.

"The sale was for your own benefit and it was at a festival."