A TEENAGE drug dealer who went back to his supplier to complain about the quality of the narcotics was arrested by police carrying out a raid.
Ian Picketts had bought almost 40 ecstasy tablets from Ian Grant, a former social worker at the secure care unit at Tiffield.
But when the 19-year-old returned to Grant’s home on November 14 last year to complain about the drugs, he was confronted by officers who were executing a warrant at the house in Lower Priory Street, Semilong.
Picketts, of Lower Adelaide Street, Semilong, appeared this week at Northampton Crown Court, and pleaded guilty to possessing 37 ecstasy tablets with intent to supply, and the possession of two tablets of the rave drug.
Matthew Lowe, defending, said: “The person Mr Picketts was complaining to was Ian Grant, who was in fact his supplier. He felt they (the drugs) were sub-standard and went back to complain, and lo and behold, the police had beaten him to it.”
Judge Peter Morrell adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and released Picketts on unconditional bail until later this month.
But the judge said: “The fact you are being released on bail should not be taken by you as any promise from the court that you will not be sent to prison. Whatever the report says, that is a live possibility.”
In March, Grant was jailed for 30 months for growing 66 cannabis plants and dealing in 1,000 ecstasy tablets.
The 25-year-old no longer works at the secure unit at the Northamptonshire care centre at Tiffield.
After his arrest he was immediately suspended from his £18,000-a-year post, which was run jointly by Northamptonshire and Leicestershire County Councils.
But he resigned prior to being dismissed.
URL
