Pair tried to make class A crystal meth at Vale Castle
TWO men tried to make a class A drug in a ‘makeshift laboratory’ at the Vale Castle, the Royal Court heard yesterday.
Thomas Philip Marr, 40, and Ross Christopher Le Page, 33, admitted attempting to make methamphetamine, more commonly known as crystal meth.
Prosecuting advocate Sarah Watson told the court that both men had been arrested in the area of Vale Castle last October.
They smelled chemicals at the north end of the site and found the men with a fire extinguisher, various chemicals, random polythene bags, small digital scales, plastic tubs, and lithium batteries.
A hole in concrete plinth contained a bubbling liquid. Lighter fluid, filter papers and drain cleaner were also found. All items were analysed but there were no controlled substances.
Police and the States Analyst who visited later concluded that all items were recognised ingredients used for the production of crystal meth, but were unable to say how much they could have made.
Both men had already served time for drugs offences.
Marr had been sentenced to more than six years in prison in 2004 for importation and 11 years for possession and manufacturing crystal meth, found at his home, in 2016. Le Page had a drug possession conviction from 2011 and other, unrelated, Royal Court convictions.
Advocate Sara Mallett said Marr had ‘followed a well-trodden path’ with his drug use. He had broken his pelvis and an elbow in an accident at work and pain medication had been required.
He had met Le Page through messages. Le Page’s role was to source the materials. He used drugs as a coping strategy and wanted to try crystal meth for the first time, said Advocate Samuel Steel.
Judge Russell Finch said Marr was now 40 and had wasted most of his life with his drug issues. ‘Crimes have consequences and drug offences are pernicious,’ he said, as he jailed him for six years and six months.
Le Page was jailed for four years and eight months. His sentence will start when a sentence of three-and-a-half years for an unrelated matter, imposed earlier yesterday by the Royal Court, has been completed. A six-month prison sentence concurrent was imposed for failing to provide the passcode to his phone.
Prison sentences of seven days, also concurrent, were meted in respect for both defendants in respect of class C drugs found on them at the time of their arrest.
