An Essex man who was found in possession of drugs worth up to £1,200 which he was planning to share with friends at a music festival has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Aaron O’Hara, 23, was searched by police who stopped a VW car in which he was a passenger in Severalls Lane, Colchester in June 2022.

When the officers asked O’Hara if he had anything he shouldn’t he reached into his underwear and produced two bags of a white crystalline powder and a bag containing 50 blue tablets, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A further four bags of white powder were also found on the front seat, said Charles Judge, prosecuting.

He said the drugs had a potential street value of up to £1,200.

O’Hara said he was taking the drugs to the Greenfield music festival to share with friends.

Nick Robinson, for O’Hara, said the offences were committed two years ago when his client was immature and a different person to the person he is now.

He said O’Hara’s arrest had been a “wake up call” and he had now stopped partying and taking drugs.

He told police he was planning to share the drugs with friends at the Greenfield music festival.

O’Hara, of Hutchinson Close, Tiptree, admitted possessing 50 ecstasy tablets with intent to supply and possessing ketamine with intent to supply.

He was given a 20 month prison sentence suspended for 24 months and ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £350 costs.

Judge David Pugh said  he was sentencing O’Hara on the basis that he was planning to share the drugs with friends and wasn’t going to sell them.