Uppercrust antiques dealer and drug ‘peddler’ to s
Uppercrust antiques dealer and drug ‘peddler’ to society friends, Quentin Leatham escaped gaol today (Tues) after a judge heard prison could be a death sentence.
The 36-year-old, who is HIV positive and suffers from hepatitis C, is undergoing revolutionary drug treatment in a bid to prevent him developing fullblown AIDS, needs to follow a strict timetable of treatment to prolong his life.
Addicted to a number of dangerous drugs, Leatham supplied friends – including Josh Astor, the black sheep of one of the country’s wealthies family – to fund his own habits, including an intake of cocaine of up to pnds stlng 400 a day.
The Old Etonian even turned his Fulham home into a fortress to protect the deals he carried out and to take drugs with compatriots.
Leatham, 36, of (92A) Grosvenor Road, Belgravia, central London, admitted that on September 2, last yar, he was in possession of a quantity of cocaine with intent to supply; possession of a quantity of cannabis with intent to supply; and permitting his premises – flat 2, 140, Fulham Road, sw LOndon, to be used for smoking cocaine.
He further pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and possession of LSD.
The antiques dealer further pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, cocaine and 1.
73g of ecstasy at the flat on October 14, last year.
Leatham also admitted that on October 16, last year he was in possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of heroin, and supplying a quantity of cocaine to Josh Astor, the illegitimate son of Lord Kagan, who was adopted by Tory MP Michael Astor.
Astor, a black sheep of one of Britain’s wealthiest families, escaped jail after cavorting on the roof of the Blakes Hotel, Kensington, in a drug induced haze.
He was ordered to perform 60 hours community service by magistrates after admitting drug related charges and being supplied with crack cocaine by Leatham.
Mr Matthew Kennedy, prosecuting, said the September 2 offences related to the flat in Fulham Road.
‘The Crown say police suspected it was being used for the supply of class A and class B drugs.
‘
As a result, he said police raided the premises, needing a
hydraulic pump to burst the doorframe to gain entry – in the meantime drugs were being thrown into the street from the rear and being dumped down a waste disposal system.
Mr Kennedy said a police ‘enforcer’ battering ram had failed to gain entry because of an iron bar Leatham had secured behind his front door, backed up with special steel bolts.
Five people, including the defendant, were arrested, and counsel added: ‘Drugs and drug related paraphernalia were found by police littered around the flat.
‘
Items recovered included ‘communal’ pipes for smoking crack cocaine, a burnt spoon, electronic scales, bearing traces of cocaine and heroin, and an address book of names and telephone numbers.
Mr Kennedy said: ‘Whilst police were there, the telephone rang several times, in connection with drugs, and two people actually arrived at the door, we say in connecion with drugs.
‘
Following the receipt of further information, police again raided the premises on October 14.
Leatham was not present but again drugs were found.
Two days later, officers were called to Room 207 of the Blakes Hotel, Kensington, where Leatham was arrested with Josh Astor.
‘They had been smoking crack (cocaine) in the room.
Astor went out onto the roof and police were called by the (hotel) manager.
‘
Mr Kennedy said at this point a largely ‘incoherent’ Leatham confessed to suppling his society friend – and admitted he had a pnds stlg 300 to 400 a day cocaine habit.
Judge Jeffrey Rucker put Leatham on probation for three years.
He will live initially at the Coach House rehabilitation clinic in Redhill, Surrey.
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