A ketamine addict who went from customer to dealer in order to fund his habit had ‘destroyed’ his bladder by taking the drug, a court heard.

Jamie Hall had suffered a number of health problems as a result of his long-term addiction to the class B drug, Oxford Crown Court was told on Monday.

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Sentencing the 31-year-old for selling ketamine and cocaine in 2019, Judge Michael Gledhill QC told him: “You have been abusing your body for years.

“You don’t need a lecture from me about what happens to people who use ketamine on a long-term basis.

“You have already had to have treatment for your bladder.

“Ketamine destroys bladders, which means spending your life with a catheter. [It] completely destroys your sex life.

“That is your decision. If you want to keep going down that road, continue going along that road.”

Earlier, prosecutor Cathy Olliver told the court that police raided Hall’s home in November 2019, when they found a small amount of what turned out to be MDMA, scales and cash totalling more than £935.

It was, however, his phones that contained the key pieces of evidence. Messages uncovered by the police experts showed him fretting to his girlfriend about not having enough money to pay his supplier as he had consumed some of his own stock.

Advertising messages promised that he had ‘snow’ – slang for cocaine – available for sale. Another message simply said: “It’s snowing.” He told a customer he did not have ‘K’, or ketamine, at the moment – only cocaine.

Hall, of Stockham Park, Wantage, pleaded guilty to being concerned in making an offer to supply class A and B drugs. He had no previous convictions for dealing drugs and had not been in trouble with the law since his arrest in 2019.

Oxford Mail: Ketamine file image Picture: NQKetamine file image Picture: NQ

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Mitigating, Kellie Enever said her client’s spiral into drug addiction followed the tragic early death of his mother.

The defendant suffered from a number of physical and mental health ailments linked to his drug-taking. Ms Enever said the cash seized by the police from her client’s wallet and safe was benefits money.

Imposing a two-year community order as a direct alternative to prison, Judge Gledhill said Hall had shown since 2019 that he ‘can do something about’ his problems with drugs.

“You have been given a chance. Many people will say I have been unduly lenient and I should have sent you through that door [in the dock, leading to the cells] for something like two-and-a-half years. I have given you that chance. It’s up to you to take it.”

Hall must do 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, complete a two-year drug rehabilitation programme and pay £500 costs.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward