A Pembroke Dock man who was arrested for being in possession of the illegal drug ‘Spice’ told police officers that he was giving it up as it was ‘killing his brain’.
Twenty-two-year-old Shawn Ryan Mardon, of Glenview Avenue, pleaded guilty to being in possession of 0.32 grammes of the Class B drug 5F-MDMB-PINACA (commonly known as Spice), when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Spice, known as the ‘zombie drug’, has hit the headlines recently in the UK, as it has said to be causing devastation and even deaths among Britain’s homeless community.
Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that the defendant was arrested shortly after 3 am on September 25, in relation to another matter and when he was taken to custody and searched, officers found two packets containing the drug in his possession.
“Mr. Mardon told officers in interview that he had been smoking the drug Spice loads and said that he had become addicted to it,” she explained.
“He said that he was meant to be getting help, though, as it was killing his brain, stating that he normally smoked four grammes of it per day,” added Ms Morgan.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that at one stage, the drug, which is a form of synthetic cannabis, was a so-called ‘legal high’.
“It has since become illegal and the price of the drug on the streets has doubled,” he explained.
Magistrates fined Mr. Mardon £80 for the offence and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.
A destruction order for the drugs was also passed.
“You realise that the drug is killing your brain - that’s why it’s banned - it’s no good for you!” chief magistrate David Simpson told the defendant.
“If you have stopped, then well done to you, but it’s a slippery slope!” he added.