A teenager's attempt to create illegal drugs at his mother's house in Chelmsford sparked a large-scale evacuation of a substance abuse support centre.
Addict Taidhg Campbell-Mansfield, of Fortinbras Way, Old Moulsham, had "an interest in chemistry" and made the drugs, which included 660g of class B sedative-hypnotic Quaalude - seen in Hollywood film the Wolf of Wall Street, Chelmsford Crown Court heard yesterday (July 10).
The 19-year-old was sentenced to a 12-month community order, and ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation clinic for six months and complete 100 hours community service, after earlier admitting to nine counts of drug possession.
It included class B drugs, including 125g of amphetamine, a quantity of cannabis resin, 176mg of JWH-018, 2mg of JWH-073 and 303mg of JWH-250.
He further pleaded guilty to possession of 39mg of Acetylpsilocin and 162mg of DMT, both class A drugs, and one tablet of Medazepam, class C drug.
'Irritated skin'
The court heard his mother inadvertently sparked an evacuation of Open Road's drug rehabilitation centre in Mansard House, New London Road, on October 2 last year when she handed in a stash of chemicals that he had used to make the drugs.
They produced a pungent smell and released vapours, causing five people to suffer from irritated skin, eyes and headaches.
Four fire engines, four ambulances and two police cars raced to the building shortly after 5.21pm and cordoned off the scene.
The five casualties had to be decontaminated in a tent at the scene. The evacuation later led to an internal investigation at Open Road, whose staff this week refused to disclose their findings.
Campbell-Mansfield was arrested the following day after 90 bottles worth of substances were found in his mother's home in North Avenue, Melbourne.
'A fair sentence'
Prosecutor Mark Lakin, said: "He had an interest in chemistry and his own addiction to drugs which he was synthesising for his own use. It was clear that you had been making drugs for your own consumption.
"You said yourself that the drug went out of fashion 30 years ago and you was curious how to make it." Police found handwritten and typed notes relating to "chemical synthesis" of various drugs, including amphetamine.
Speaking afterwards, Campbell-Mansfield said: "I'm happy that it's all over."
His mother Ms Mansfield said: "We are both very relieved that it's all over. It has been a tough time for the family.
"We thought that it was a fair sentence from the judge."
The court heard how Campbell-Mansfield had sought advice for mental illness and accepted that he had a drug problem.
Judge John Dodd QC said: "This is a very dangerous business you have got yourself involved in, in terms of criminality and in terms of the harm it can do to you and your brain.
"I sincerely hope you will move away from using drugs of any shape or form and concentrate on getting yourself better."
