A STUDENT who was just weeks away from finishing his three-year degree has been jailed for attempting to smuggle over 100 ecstasy pills into Creamfields.

Twenty-one-year-old John Conaghan travelled down from Coatbridge in Scotland to attend the popular music festival in Daresbury with the sole aim to ‘make paper’ off his class A stash.

Prosecuting, Joanne Moore said at 5.20pm on Saturday, August 26, a police constable searched the defendant as he was entering the festival and discovered 109 MDMA pills on his person – worth £1050.

Conaghan’s mobile phone was confiscated, and WhatsApp messages revealed his plan to make a ‘fortune’ from selling his supply to festival goers at £10 per tablet.

Ms Moore said: “In the messages he said he is going in on a mission to make paper. Someone then replies, ‘you’ll make a fortune’.”

The defendant, who was tearful throughout his sentencing, appeared before Chester Crown Court facing charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Defending, Bernice Cambell said the idea was formed to ‘pay off a debt’ Conaghan had derived from his own drug habit.

She said: “He is one step away from completing his three-year degree. The defendant said he did not see the amnesty bins at the festival.”

Judge Patrick Thompson replied: “Did he walk in with his eyes closed?”

Ms Cambell responded: “He should well have seen them. At that time, he was mentally unfit. He has now paid his debt off by selling his clothes.”

Speaking on his personal mitigation, she added: “He has turned his life 360 degrees. He is clean, he has been working in Costco.

“He recognises that it was his addiction that caused him to do this.”

Judge Thompson stated that £89,000 worth of drugs were seized from individuals at Creamfields in 2022.

“A 25-year-old female at that same festival last year took MDMA on the Friday and passed away the following Tuesday,” he added. “There is an impact of people taking MDMA.”

Ms Cambell said: “If anyone deserves a chance it is Mr Conaghan. The impact of custody will make him a worse person.”

Concluding, Judge Thompson said: “It is clear to me that you travelled there for one reason and that was to make money.

“You suggest you did not see the amnesty bins – I do not accept that.

“I am afraid those who take drugs into this festival to make money must expect to receive an immediate custodial sentence.”

The defendant was given 2.5 years custodial sentence, of which he will serve half of before being released on licence.