A drug dealer was arrested and charged after he called the police to report his drugs had been stolen during a break-in.
James Beaumont, 38, called the Thames Valley Police to report that someone had got into his house and stolen the drugs. When officers arrived at his home, he provided them with a list of drugs that had been stolen, including cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, and 87g of crystal meth.
Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Monday, September 4, Beaumont pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply.
Police found class A drugs including cocaine, MDMA, methylamphetamine, and LSD at his home, along with class B drugs cannabis and ketamine, and class C drug Etizolam.
Prosecutor Nigel Ogborne alleged that Beaumont had others helping him supply other drugs – including ecstasy, ketamine and crystal meth.
Defending, James Reilly said Beaumont did not accept that he had got others involved in selling his drugs for him.
His client had been suffering badly with poor mental health at the time – and had complained of there being ‘men hiding in the bushes’.
He added: ‘All sorts of things can be said [by] the defendant. Whether any of those things did happen is an entirely different kettle of fish.
‘If the Crown were saying he was [*] some high-level drug dealer involving other people, arming them, there isn’t any reality in that.’
Beaumont was also found to be in possession of six ‘Tasers’, capable of discharging an electric current.
Mr Ogborne said: ‘[The defendant] refers to the Tasers, offering them to the individuals [dealing drugs] for that purpose.’
Judge Ian Pringle KC adjourned sentencing for the prosecution to serve further evidence from a download of the defendant’s phone, to help establish either way whether or not he was involving others in the supply of drugs.
It is possible that a judge will have to hear evidence at a future hearing, called a Newton, and decide the basis on which Beaumont will be sentenced.
The case will next be at the St Aldates Crown Court on September 22, when the judge will either make arrangements for a Newton hearing or fix a date for Beaumont’s sentencing.
Judge Pringle told the defendant: ‘You’ve got no previous convictions, you’re 38 nearly 39 and your counsel has persuaded me I should grant you bail.’
As conditions of his bail, the defendant must live and sleep at his home in North Hinksey and must sign on at St. Aldates police station every Tuesday and Thursday.
