Jail for Suffolk addict

A SUDBURY man who turned to drugs after his mother's death has been jailed for two and a half years.

He was also involved in an affray along with an Ipswich man, who was sentenced to six months in a young offenders' institute.

Darren Taylor, 20, of Hardy Court, Sudbury pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy and to possessing ecstasy and cannabis resin with intent to supply.

He also admitted stealing two compact discs from an HMV store and to causing an affray outside a Sudbury pub.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Taylor was detained by an HMV security officer, who became suspicious that he was stealing CDs.

Lindsay Cox, prosecuting, said Taylor pleaded with the officer not to call the police and offered him a £200 bribe.

He tried to run from the store, but was caught by the officer.

The police were called and a bag of ecstasy tablets worth between £750 and £1,200 and cannabis resin and £240 in cash were discovered on him.

Taylor's home was searched and £990 was found, along with a 303g block of cannabis worth between £900 and £1,300, and scales used to weight drugs.

Taylor was also involved in a fight in which he hit a Mr Davis, causing a cut to his nose.

Matthew Chudleigh, 19, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, also became involved in the fight. He pleaded guilty to affray.

The court heard that Taylor was of good character until his mother died of liver failure two years ago.

He spent a year nursing her and finally had to give his consent to have medical treatment withdrawn.

Taylor became depressed and took ecstasy to make him feel better, the court heard. He began dealing drugs to feed his own habit.

Chudleigh had previous convictions for assault, possessing drugs, dishonesty and criminal damage.

Judge Peter Thompson said he hoped Taylor could turn his life around when he left prison.