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Crime Solicitors

Ipswich shopkeeper prosecuted for “legal highs” drugs offences (19 December 2016)

Date: 19/12/2016
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Ipswich shopkeeper prosecuted for “legal highs” drugs offences

Suffolk County Council has prosecuted an Ipswich shopkeeper for offences relating to legal highs.

Rodney Debenham – owner of the New Dawn shop in Eagle Street, Suffolk –
pleaded guilty in September 2016, following an investigation by Suffolk Trading Standards, supported by Suffolk Constabulary. He has been sentenced to a community order of 180 hours of unpaid work.

Charges brought against Debenham included falsely labelling a psychoactive substance in relation to the composition, usage and risks of the product – and selling a falsely labelled psychoactive substance, both contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Since the start of the investigation, new legislation has come into force to specifically deal with legal highs – the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

However, at the time of the investigation, both Suffolk Trading Standards and Suffolk Police had significant concerns about the safety of such products and together took action using legislation that already existed, but was never designed for this purpose.

Debenham was also given a forfeiture order covering items seized, including approximately 18kg of new psychoactive substances – the equivalent of approximately 11,000 packets.

Associated paraphernalia was also seized – the value of items seized runs into an estimated six figures.

The investigation began in September 2014 after intelligence was received about “new psychoactive products” – otherwise known as “legal highs” – being sold at the shop and concerns of the safety of the products.

The New Dawn shop closed in 2014, following the investigation by Suffolk County Council’s Trading Standards team.

Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Environment and Public Protection, Councillor Matthew Hicks, said:

“Thanks to the investigative work of Suffolk Trading Standards and Suffolk police, the New Dawn shop is now not able to supply psychoactive substances into our communities.

“There is no way of knowing what health dangers these substances pose –and hopefully the sentencing today will act as a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking these products.”

Suffolk Constabulary’s Controlled Drug Liaison Officer, Robin Pivett, added:

“These substances mimic the effects of controlled drugs, such as cocaine, Ecstasy and cannabis – and can take the form of powders, pills and herbal.

“They are not all covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act, as their chemical structure has been slightly altered – which makes them very dangerous, as it is impossible to predict the side effects or long-term health risks that they may cause.

“Risks of legal highs include reduced inhibitions, drowsiness, excited or paranoid states, psychosis, hallucinations, coma and seizures. Many have been directly linked to emergency hospital admissions – and, in some cases, deaths.

“One type of substance can also be much stronger than another – in some cases, ten times stronger and this can lead to accidental overdosing. We hope the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 will significantly help in the fight against legal highs.”


Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving drugs offences, including possession, supply, or manufacturing or distributing Class A and Class B drugs or psychoactive substances.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on all drugs offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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