Conran Morgan’s desperate actions turned his stash of drugs into ‘mush’ after he was caught ‘spinning pills’ at a rave
Conran Morgan(Image: Facebook)
A teenager attempted to destroy the evidence after he was caught “spinning pills” at a rave. Conran Morgan’s desperate actions turned his stash of ecstasy tablets into “mush” as he “tried to get rid of the f***ing s***” when caught red-handed dealing drugs by security.
The contents of his mobile phone then revealed that he had regularly been “selling sweets” previously. He wept this afternoon as a judge handed him an “opportunity” but warned him that he faces years in prison if he does not change his ways.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Tuesday, June 24, that Morgan was captured on CCTV “milling around an outside bar area, approaching people he did not know” during an event at Blackstone Street Warehouse in Vauxhall on February 3 last year. This included a recorded exchange between the then 19-year-old, of Manton Road in Kensington, and an apparent customer at one stage.
Iain Criddle, prosecuting, described how it was “obvious that drug dealing was going on”, leading to the defendant being detained by security staff. However, Morgan “struggled” with these doormen and poured water over the approximately 40 ecstasy tablets he had in possession in “an attempt to destroy evidence”.
This meant that, by the time police officers had arrived at the venue, these drugs had become a “powdery mush”. The now 21-year-old, who also swallowed some of the illicit substances, was further caught with small quantities of cocaine and ketamine on his person, as well as £132.91 in cash.
The incident meanwhile led to the seizure of Morgan’s phone, which was subsequently found to contain a series of messages relating to the supply of ecstasy from January and February of 2024. These included contacts asking him whether he was “selling the sweets” and “spinning pills”.
Files saved on the device meanwhile included a picture of a “large quantity of tablets”, again suspected to have been ecstasy. Morgan, who has no previous convictions, was also evidenced to have supplied a single wrap of cocaine to a drug user on one occasion.
The Blackstone Street Warehouse social media channels advertised a ‘Boiler Room Liverpool Afterparty’ taking place on February 3, 2024, from 10.30pm until ‘late’.
Charles Lander, defending, told the court: “These matters, as we know, go back to February last year. As a matter of fact, the defendant was a teenager at the time. He was addicted [to cocaine] at the time himself. He says that he was using ecstasy as well.
“References speak highly of the defendant’s character. He has rid himself of that cocaine addiction. This is not someone who has been waiting for the fateful day and sponging off the government. He has found employment throughout, working on the [Everton FC] football stadium and as a duct fitter’s mate.
“This court can, rather exceptionally, take something of an exceptional view. Rather than ruining his life forever by going into custody, given how he has progressed in the last 16 months, the court can be reassured that Mr Morgan would not be appearing before these courts again. Clearly, he is someone with ability.”
Blackstone Street Warehouse in Vauxhall(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Morgan admitted possession of ecstasy with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and ecstasy and possession of cocaine and ketamine. He nodded as he was handed a two-year imprisonment suspended for two years.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Harris said: “You were uncooperative. You tried to get rid of evidence. When asked what you were doing, you said you were ‘trying to get rid of the f***ing s***’, initially down a drain. You attempted to pour water over the tablets you had, which caused the chemical mush.
“It is often said, but must be repeated, that the supply of class A drugs causes endless problems to individuals, families and society in general. Drugs cause endless amounts of crime, including often lethal violence.
“The reason that you went there armed with drugs was to make money. There were messages and images relating to enthusiastic drug marketing. There are images showing a lot of tablets, which, I have no doubt, were part of a drugs stash.
“Mitigating factors are your lack of any previous convictions, as well as discount for your guilty pleas. You are now in employment and have addressed your addiction. You were 19 and a teenager when you were engaged in this drug dealing.
“I accept that your remorse is genuine, perhaps because you know exactly what you are facing. Nonetheless, you have taken steps to better yourself. I have read character references supplied on your behalf, which show that you have a degree of fibre about you.”
Morgan was also handed a 12-month electronically-monitored curfew from 10.30pm to 7am and told to compete 200 hours of unpaid work. He appeared to wipe tears from his eyes after being handed a tissue by a dock officer as Judge Harris continued: “Normally, you know, drug dealers go to prison, especially with the way you have behaved, but I am prepared to afford you an opportunity.
“It may be a chance, but I see this as an opportunity to put this all behind you and carry on the work that has enabled your counsel to persuade me that immediate custody may not be the best way forward, given the realistic prospect of rehabilitation. In other words, ensuring that you stay crime free. If you don’t, you will go to prison, I suspect, for a number of years.”