A KETAMINE dealer who was high on the drug when he kicked a police officer is wanted by police for breaching his suspended sentence.
Jareth Saxton was due to appear at Swansea Crown Court for breaching his suspended sentence order
Saxton, now 27, of Dihewyd in Ceredigion, was sentenced to eight months, suspended for two years, in January for possession with intent to supply ketamine. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
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And in April, Saxton was handed a further nine-week sentence for assaulting an emergency worker the previous August, suspended on the same terms as his previous sentence. He also admitted possessing ketamine, for which he received a seven-day suspended sentence, running concurrently.
On that occasion, Dyfed-Powys Police were called on August 24, 2022, after a member of the public about a suspected drink driver.
The car was found abandoned, but the officers then saw Saxton fleeing from the scene.
There was a struggle on the floor, before the defendant was handcuffed and initially calmed.
He was searched, and the officers discovered 29.8 grams of ketamine on him. It was at this point Saxton began to kick out at the officers.
He connected with one of the officers, kicking him in the stomach and the upper leg.
“It was clear to the officers he was under the influence of drugs as he was vacant, jittery and his actions were unpredictable,” the prosecution said at the sentencing hearing.
Whilst in custody, Saxton admitted the white powder was ketamine, and apologised to the officers for his actions.
The following day, his caravan was searched and 12 grams of cannabis was found in a plastic tub.
He initially claimed in his interview that he had kicked out because the officers were sat on him and were kneeling on his neck, but this was disproved using the officers’ body-worn camera footage.
He said the ketamine was for his own personal use, as he was using up to 10 grams a day at the time.
At the time, he was on bail while being investigated for the ketamine dealing charge.
Speaking at Swansea Crown Court on October 5, prosecutor Alycia Carpanini said Saxton was now not complying with the terms of his suspended sentence – and he had not turned up for the hearing.
She said the defendant was already wanted by police.
Judge Catherine Richards issued a warrant for Saxton’s arrest.
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