A drugs dealer facing the onslaught of full-blown

A drugs dealer facing the onslaught of full-blown AIDS today (Wed) escaped with a ‘merciful’ two year prison sentence because of his health problems.

Snared in possession of a menu of banned substances, Jose Tristan-Garcia, 36, claimed the haul was for his personal use, despite being in lethal quantities.

A jury heard how a nightclub’s own drugs police caught a dealer pushing an array of banned substances in a top London venue.

The suspect was immediately searched and found to have drugs concealed on him – measured out in conveniently sized plastic bags.

London’s Southwark Crown Court heard Tristan-Garcia’s secret cache uncovered at the Fabric Nightclub included ecstasy, LSD, and cocaine – all Class A drugs – as well as the tranquilliser ketamine and caffeine.

Jailing the Spaniard, Judge Mota Singh, QC, said the defendant was convicted on the clearest evidence – the jury rightly ignoring his claim the drugs were for personal use.

But he said he was ‘prepared to show mercy’ given his fragile state of health after being tested HIV positive and likely to develop AIDS.

Charles Ward-Jackson said the pusher was spotted conducting a ‘deal’ with two men by a security manager, who had a special responsibility to counter any signs of drugs at the Fabric Nightclub, in the City of London.

‘As you know there is a problem in nightclubs with people pushing drugs and people being provided with drugs by dealers,’ he told the jury.

‘The Crown’s case in a nutshell, is this defendant was a dealer who had gone to the club specifically to sell drugs.

‘

The barrister said it maybe there would be no dispute Tristan-Garcia was found in possession of the drugs, the issue was whether he intended their supply.

But he said the ‘quantity and variety’ pointed to the defendant being a dealer, backed with the large amount of cash he had on him, the drugs being bagged in small quantities, and what the club staff witnessed.

He said a further large quantity of ecstasy was found at the defendant’s home, a long with scales and a number of self-sealing plastic bags.

‘No one goes to a nightclub with all these drugs found on them to take themselves.

It is probably a quantity that could kill you,’ observed Mr Ward-Jackson.

Tristan-Garcia, of Tavistock Crescent, Notting Hill, West London, had denied six charges of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply on December 20, 1999.

Further, he pleaded not guilty to possessing 1.

5g of cannabis resin, later found at his home.

‘Possessing drugs is bad enough, but supplying drugs is far worse as far as the law is concerned,’ added counsel.

Found on the defendant at the club were: pnds stlng 265; 39 tablets of MDMA – commonly known as ecstasy; 65 squares of paper impregnated with LSD; 2.

25g of MDMA powder in seven small plastic bags; and 18 bags containing 7g of cocaine.

In addition was found five similar small bags containing caffeine and ten bags of white powder later discovered to be ketamine.

And when police raided the defendant’s flat, they also discovered a further 138 tablets of ecstasy and the cannabis.

ends