A father unwittingly drove his 18-year-old son to a late-night meeting at which the teenager tried to complete a drug deal.
But instead of giving his son a telling off or forcing him to turn his back on the deal, 48-year-old Workington man Stephen Kelly went along with it – and even assaulted the young woman who was trying to buy Ecstasy.
Kelly senior and his son Lewis, 19, of Mossbay Road, Workington, both admitted drugs offences at Carlisle Crown Court.
Lewis Kelly admitted possessing the Class A drug with intent to supply it, while Kelly senior admitted being concerned in the supply of the same drug and a common assault.
Paul Treble, prosecuting, said the victim was having a night out with friends in Workington on October 17, drinking “vodka bombs", “Jager bombs”, a bottle of rose wine and taking drugs – 1g of ketamine and half a gram of cocaine.
The friends "pooled" resources so they could buy more drugs, said Mr Treble. The number she was given to place the drugs order was Lewis Kelly’s, the court heard. “She asked him to supply Ecstasy,” said Mr Treble.
A short time later, Lewis Kelly arrived in a Ford Fiesta, driven by his father. Lewis sold the woman eight tablets for £80 – but her bank card failed and they had to drive the woman to a nearby cashpoint.
“The driver Stephen Kelly was angry, aggressive and swearing,” said Mr Treble. When the woman realised she didn’t have her bank card, Stephen Kelly pushed her, knocking her to the ground – and at that point Lewis Kelly took her phone. The woman ran off.
The court heard that Stephen Kelly admitted his guilt on the basis he was taking his son to see somebody who owed him money – though he did not know what for.
Daniel Bramhall, defending, said: “Regrettably, Mr Kelly didn’t question his son as the nature of the debt,” said Daniel Bramhall, defending. “At some point, he did become aware that drugs were involved and had a complete lapse of judgement at that stage. He bitterly regrets his actions.” The younger man, the court heard, was of previous good character.
Recorder Mark Rhind QC referred to Kelly senior’s realisation that drugs were involved, saying: “Unbelievably, mind-bogglingly, you didn’t do anything to prevent what was going on; or complain because of course [the assault victim] was in the car. She remembers you being aggressive and angry. You took her to a cashpoint so she could get them money to pay for the drugs.”
The judge added: “You should be utterly, utterly ashamed of yourself. Of all the things any responsible father would do in this situation – give him a good telling off; or tell her to leave. What did you do?
“You did the very last thing any self-respecting father would do: you played a part in that transaction.”
Lewis Kelly was given a two-year detention, suspended for two years, with 200 hours unpaid work and 18 hours at an attendance centre and a six-month curfew. Stephen Kelly was given 12 months' jail, suspended for two years, with 200 hours unpaid work and a six-month curfew.
The girl Stephen Kelly assaulted accepted a caution for her behaviour.
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