Derry man charged with possession of drugs remanded
Luke Holden (22) of Knockena in Derry was arrested following police seeing CCTV showing a male supplying drugs to two young females on June 30
A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates Court charged with possession of drugs.
The court heard Luke Holden (22) of Knockena in Derry was arrested following police seeing CCTV showing a male supplying drugs to two young females on June 30.
Following this, Holden was spotted alone in Orchard Street in possession of a man bag. When searched, police found over 800 tablets of various kinds, including fake diazepam, as well as a smart phone and cash.
He was subsequently arrested for supplying drugs and, when interviewed by police, admitted to having recently gone to Belfast to buy 1,000 tablets for £150. Police also found a return ticket to Belfast.
The court heard that Holden, who has twenty previous drug convictions, is addicted to drugs himself and the fake diazepam tablets have been linked to eleven overdoses in the past five days.
Police objected to bail as they believe he is at risk of reoffending.
Defence Barrister Stephen Chapman said that Holden had co-operated with police when interviewed and that some admissions had been made.
He added that Holden is classed as vulnerable, having been assessed as having a mental age of eight. As well as this, Holden is said to have fallen into severe drug addiction to which his family have tried repeatedly to get him help for.
District Judge Barney McElhom said that Holden is 'selling potentially lethal drugs' to 'younger and younger people', remanding him in custody. He will appear again on July 25.