SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR SANDOWN MAN CAUGHT DEALING KETAMINE TO FRIEND

A first-time offender caught dealing ketamine to a friend in a car park in Shanklin has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Renan White, 26, of Ranelagh Road in Sandown, admitted possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class B when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Friday (17th May). Prosecutor Liz Miller, told the court that on 19th January this year, Police witnessed a suspected drugs exchange taking place outside The Co-op on Landguard Road in Shanklin, in which a man went up to a car window and an exchange was completed. Police moved in to apprehend White, who attempted to discard the illegal substance -but it was quickly located. Following the seizure of his vehicle, an unspecified amount of ketamine was found in White’s possession. Texts seen on his phone showed White and the buyer agreeing on a meeting place and confirming he would supply him with 2g of the substance. Having arrested the 26-year-old Tesco worker, officers carried out a search of his home address in which a large amount of drug preparation gear was found. Defending, Rachel Wigley told the court that her client had shown remorse for his actions and that he didn’t have a drug problem – instead he simply made the wrong choice to sell drugs to a known acquaintance. Sentencing White, Magistrates said that they treat drug dealing very seriously and as such handed him a 4-week prison sentence. However, due to this being his first criminal conviction, they chose to suspend that sentence for a period of 12 months. White must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £85 and a £154 surcharge fee.