Thatcham man's face was caked in ketamine, court told

Landscape gardener handed fine

A THATCHAM man snorted the illegal drug ketamine so enthusiastically that police saw it caked round his face.

The give-away led to the arrest of Christopher John Denton of Mount Road, Newbury magistrates heard on Thursday, December 17.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said police patrolling Bath Road in Thatcham around midnight came across the 28-year-old looking bewildered, with white powder all round his nose.

She added: “He told them he had just taken the drug ketamine and, upon searching him, officers found a quantity of powder in his pocket.”

Mr Denton admitted possessing the Class B controlled substance, an anaesthetic drug commonly used in animal and, more seldom, human surgery, which can cause bizarre hallucinations if used for illegal recreation.

He also had several convictions for similar offences, the court heard.

Simon Hammudi, defending, said his client had been completely co-operative with police, immediately admitting the offence to officers.

He added that Mr Denton was a self-employed landscape gardener and went on: “He had received some bad news and his response was to buy a gram of ketamine to consume for himself.

“Following an argument with his parents, he has been sofa -surfing with friends.”

Magistrates fined Mr Denton £50 and ordered him to pay a £150 criminal courts charge plus £20 victim surcharge.