Blake Holmes gave himself up at the VIP entrance to the popular music festivalBlake Holmes gave himself up at the VIP entrance to the popular music festivalBlake Holmes gave himself up at the VIP entrance to the popular music festival(Image: Cheshire Constabulary)

A man who attended Creamfields festival with a backpack full of Irn-Bru cans has landed himself in jail. Blake Holmes gave himself up at the entrance after admitting to carrying almost £2,000 worth of drugs.

A court heard how the 20-year-old attended the popular music festival in Daresbury on August 25 2023. As he was approaching the VIP entrance, he stated he had something to declare and was pulled away to be searched.

He told officers that he had been paid £500 to take a black rucksack into the festival which contained approximately 50 tablets, of both cocaine and ketamine.

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When searched, officers uncovered a folding lock knife along with a pack of Irn-Bru cans, which were all sealed up and appeared to be full cans, Chester Crown Court was told.

Upon further examination by officers, they noticed one of the cans had a false base. It was opened and found to contain 62.4 grams of MDMA, 3.6 grams of ketamine and 10.1 grams of cocaine. The drugs were found to have an estimated street value of £1990.00.

The Irn-Bru cans were confiscated and assessed by officersThe Irn-Bru cans were confiscated and assessed by officers(Image: Cheshire Constabulary)

Holmes was arrested and despite initially stating that he had been paid to transport the drugs into the festival, he refused to answer any questions that were put to him in custody, Cheshire Police said.

The 20-year-old of Woodburn Place in Dalkeith later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (MDNA and cocaine), possession with intent to supply class B drugs (ketamine) and possession of a knife.

He appeared at Chester Crown Court on April 22 where he was sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Holmes gave himself up at the entranceHolmes gave himself up at the entrance(Image: Cheshire Constabulary)

Following the sentencing, Police Constable Neil Fleming, of Cheshire Constabulary said: “While Holmes may have admitted his wrongdoing before he entered the festival, what he did was illegal and I welcome the sentence that has been handed to him.

“Creamfields festival is a huge policing operation and we work with the event organisers and security staff to prevent illegal drugs getting into the site.

“Be under no illusion, while a large majority of Creamfields festivalgoers are respectful, those smuggling drugs into the event will be charged and dealt with by the courts. Do not make this mistake.”

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