University student jailed over drugs
Jun 7 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
A YOUNG student has “thrown away” a promising university career after being jailed yesterday for drug dealing in a North nightclub.
Lynsey Fraser was locked up for 30 months after she was caught with a bag of Class A drugs as she tried to enter the venue.
The 21-year-old, of Westhope Road, South Shields, was searched by staff at the Switch club on Scotswood Road, Newcastle, in September last year.
They found two bags containing 61 Ecstasy tablets and a small wrap of cocaine.
Fraser, a second year student at Newcastle University, accepted possessing the drugs but denied any intent to supply them to others in the club, insisting they were for her personal use.
But, in May, a jury found her guilty of the intent to supply and she was sentenced yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court to 30 months in prison.
Gavin Doig, prosecuting, said: “At 2am on Friday, September 22, when a door supervisor searched Lynsey Fraser who was attempting to gain entry to Switch bar, they found two bags of white tablets – 61 Ecstasy tablets and a small wrap of cocaine.
“She accepted possession of the items but, at that stage, said they were for her own use.
“The jury disbelieved her.”
But Andrew Holmes, defending, said the dealing was prompted by her addiction and a need to raise funds to satisfy her habits.
“She is somebody who was introduced to drugs and developed an addiction both to Ecstasy and to cocaine,” he said.
“She had to find a way of paying for those drugs.”
Fraser was described as someone who “quite clearly has intelligence” and in the second year of a degree course at Newcastle University. Mr Holmes added: “She has thrown those good prospects away at this stage.
“She quite clearly understands the quite significant risk she has put herself in.”
Judge Beatrice Bolton cited Fraser’s purpose with the drugs – and her initial unwillingness to admit her intention – as an aggravating factor.
She said: “You’re 21 years of age and on May 13 this year you were convicted of the possession of Class A drugs with the intent to supply.
“You tried to get into a nightclub with 61 Ecstasy tablets. The jury were quite satisfied that you intended to supply them within that nightclub.
“This is very serious offending.”
