A Witham man caught on his way into Chelmsford's V Festival last year with wraps of cocaine was today spared an immediate jail sentence.
Instead he was given a suspended sentence and left facing a £5,000 bill in fines and legal costs. The judge accepted he only intended to supply the drugs to friends and people he knew.
Tony Wilkerson, 25, of Highfields Road, Witham, had six wraps of the class A drug hidden under his iPhone which was in his hand when he was stopped at the festival entry.
He also had four mobile phones on him containing text messages requesting drugs Chelmsford Crown Court was told. When interviewed by police he claimed that the drugs were for his own use.
Wilkerson, who works in the building trade pleaded guilty to possessing 3.69g of cocaine with intent to supply on 17 August 2012 and to being concerned in the supply cocaine.
Judge Anthony Goldstaub said he accepted that Wilkerson only intended to supply to his friends and people he knew.
He imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and fined him £4,000 with £1,000 costs to pay as well.
As he passed sentence he told Wilkerson: "Take this as a warning not to supply drugs or be concerned with them.
"You will not be able to manage like some rock stars. They are the minority. Most people come to an ill end."
The judge added that normally people with drugs at the annual V Festival in Hylands Park went immediately to jail, but he was of good character and in work and added : "I am satisfied that you intended to supply only people who were known to you, not to the general public.
"However, it is still a very serious matter."