A drug dealer who called the police to report someone had stolen his ‘crystals’ in a burglary ended up getting arrested himself.

James Beaumont, 38, rang Thames Valley Police in April 2020 to report that someone had got into his house and stolen the drugs.

Prosecuting, Nigel Ogborne said of the bizarre call-out: “The police attend and he then supplies the police with a list of drugs that have been taken from him.

“There is an extensive list of involvement in a variety of types of drugs, ranging from LSDA, MDMA and the like.”

The police found a selection of drugs, including 87g of crystal meth and 10g of MDMA. 

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Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Monday (September 4), Beaumont, of Southern Bypass Road, North Hinksey, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs cocaine, MDMA, methylamphetamine and LSD, class B drugs cannabis and ketamine, and class C drug Etizolam.

He also accepted possession of six weapons designed to discharge an electric current.  

It was suggested by the prosecution that Beaumont had others helping him supply drugs like ecstasy, ketamine and methylamphetamine, better known as crystal meth.

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Police discovered he had six ‘Tasers’, capable of discharging an electric current.

Mr Ogborne said: “[The defendant] refers to the Tasers, offering them to the individuals [dealing drugs] for that purpose.”

Defending, James Reilly said Beaumont did not accept that he had got others involved in selling his drugs for him.

Oxford Mail: James Beaumont outside Oxford Crown Court James Beaumont outside Oxford Crown Court (Image: Oxford Mail)

His client had been suffering badly with poor mental health at the time.

He had, for example, complained of there being ‘men hiding in the bushes’, Mr Reilly said. 

“All sorts of things can be said [by] the defendant. Whether any of those things did happen is an entirely different kettle of fish,” the advocate added.

“If the Crown were saying he was […] some high-level drug dealer involving other people, arming them, there isn’t any reality in that.”

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Asking for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by the probation service, Mr Reilly said Beaumont had no previous convictions and was currently working with addiction service Turning Point to address his past drug misuse.

Judge Ian Pringle KC adjourned sentencing for the prosecution to serve further evidence from a download of the defendant’s phone, to help establish either way whether or not he was involving others in the supply of drugs.

It is possible that a judge will have to hear evidence at a future hearing, called a Newton, and decide the basis on which Beaumont will be sentenced.

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The case will next be at the St Aldates crown court on September 22, when the judge will either make arrangements for a Newton hearing or fix a date for Beaumont’s sentencing.

Judge Pringle told the defendant: “You’ve got no previous convictions, you’re 38 nearly 39 and your counsel has persuaded me I should grant you bail.”

As conditions of his bail, the defendant must live and sleep at his home in North Hinksey and must sign on at St Aldates police station every Tuesday and Thursday.