25-year-old Luke Orton has been ordered to pay a £276 fine after being caught in possession of up to £800 of cocaine – a Class A drug he intended to party with on New Year’s Eve.
Orton, of Alpine Road in Ventnor, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with possession of 8.2g of cocaine.
The court heard from the prosecution that Orton caught the attention of a local Police dog unit whilst acting suspiciously in the car park on Medina Avenue on 30th December last year.
Police approached the telecoms engineer but he ran off, leaving his girlfriend behind in the passenger seat of his blue VW Scirocco.
A search of the car was carried out and a quantity of drugs was found. To the officer’s surprise, Orton returned to the vehicle whilst the search was underway and admitted that the drugs were his.
At the time of the incident, the 25-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, as previously reported by Island Echo. However, the court heard this week that the drugs were for personal use only and that no further action was being taken in respect of the drug dealing accusation.
Magistrates heard that the drugs were confirmed to be cocaine with an estimated value of between £400 and £800.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said that his client had purchased the cocaine for the New Year celebrations, revealing that the drugs had only just been purchased. Mr Vincent said that Orton simply panicked and ran away when approached by Police.
Luke Orton was handed a Band C fine of £276, as well as being ordered to pay £85 costs with a £34 surcharge.
£400 to £800 worth was for personal use !
I wonder how true that statement is?
8.2 grams ? For personal use on just one night? Thats preeeeety heavy going, seriously doubt thats all just for him….
What is it with Ventnor and freshwater.All seem to be Druggis and pedophiles that live out that way and most of island.Home grown and 2&3rd generation no doubt…
If you don’t like it here, sod off
So most of the island are druggies and paedos?…..you need to reel yourself in. You don’t have to live here
nearly a £100 a gramme – jeez – the cost of living crisis really is biting now
Poor lad … what a shame. Would have been a cracking night. people get banged up for weed, so not sure how the punishment was so little.
£276 fine for this smack head. What world do these magistrates live in?
How does a magistrate become a magistrate ? Do they have to take an exam where if you get less than 10% right you get the job
Shhh, i’m sure you are a perfect example to us all. What makes you an expert?
You are obviously an expert and need to educate everyone.
8g – No way that’s just one night of personal use.
Naive court !
Naive is the word for the Court.
He should have been given a much higher fine and a suspended prison sentence.
8g is NOT for personal use, unless you want to put your life in danger or are using it regularly and it is for that purpose, in which case his defence is fictitious.
‘If you believe that you will believe anything’
8g in one night!!! must have been pretty crappy gear
Yeah he probably bought it off Tony Montana !!!