A glamorous festival-goer was caught trying to smuggle Kinder eggs filled with ketamine into Creamfields music festival.
Erin Gallacher, 23, and then lover Keir Lyons, 24, both from Dundee, were arrested at the festival in Runcorn, Cheshire, after she tried to sneak in 46 wraps of ketamine hidden inside two Kinder egg tubes and concealed in her vagina.
One of the Kinder egg cartons contained 30 wraps, consisting of 19.7g of ketamine, valued at £1,200 and the other contained 11.1g of ketamine, valued at £640.
The couple were caught after travelling to the popular event on August 25, 2023, by coach.
But when quizzed Gallacher claimed they had not planned to smuggle the drugs into the event whilst Lyons insisted the items were for their own use.
However, at Chester Crown Court both admitted possession of ketamine with intent to supply.
Gallacher was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for 18 months, along with 200 hours of unpaid work.
Lyons was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for 12 months, along with 300 hours of unpaid work.
Erin Gallacher, 23, wept in the docks as she was jailed for trying to smuggle ketamine inside two Kinder egg cartons which she had inserted into her vagina
Her then lover Keir Lyons, 24,said he would take responsibility for the drugs after Gallacher became emotional when they were caught
The couple were caught after travelling to the popular musical festival Creamfields on August 25, 2023 by coach
Responding to their initial claims the drugs were for personal use, Judge Thompson said: 'What planet do people think judges are on? If they had taken 46 wraps over the weekend they would probably both be using colostomy bags now. I have heard every excuse in the book. I know exactly what was going on. It is just not believable.
'I have been dealing with Creamfields cases for the 15 years I have been sitting, rather too often for my liking. No one seems to get the message. The drug of the moment seems to be ketamine. I do not know why people do not realise the damage done to the bladder and bowels. It is most people's worst nightmare to have a colostomy bag.
'More and more people have them because that is what ketamine does to your insides. It is a category B drug but most judges feel it should be category A. I do not know why it is category B because it is so prominent now and the damage it is causing to people.
'But people choose to take the drug. It puts a strain on the NHS for various bladder and bowel operations that they have to do. During a murder case at court recently, the defendant constantly had to be allowed breaks for the toilet. He was a ketamine user and his bladder was shot to bits. That is what it gets to.'
He added: 'This court really is tired with dealing with young people like yourselves, young people who have everything going for them, have a bright future, who choose to turn up at Creamfields, travel long distances, like you did, and decide that they will get some drugs into the festival. The reason for that, is that they are double the value once you get through the security gate.
'This court is not naive about Creamfields. For 15 years I have been sending young people to prison. It was not something I enjoyed. In fact, it is very depressing.'
Will Griffin, prosecuting, explained the couple had a weekend pass for the festival but when they tried to enter Gallacher was stopped and searched by security and was found to be concealing the drugs.
One of the Kinder egg cartons contained 30 wraps, consisting of 19.7g of ketamine, valued at £1,200 and the other contained 11.1g of ketamine, valued at £640 (stock image)
At Chester Crown Court, both admitted possession of ketamine with intent to supply
Gallacher was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for 18 months, along with 200 hours of unpaid work
Lyons was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for 12 months, along with 300 hours of unpaid work
She claimed to have been paid to take the drugs into the festival and made arrangements on the coach.
Mr Griffin said: 'She then became very emotional and Mr Lyons said he would take responsibility for the drugs.
'Mr Lyons phone was analysed by police. There seems to be evidence that he is involved in drug supply in Scotland and there was also some planning prior to the Creamfields weekend.'
Gallacher gave no comment in a police interview whilst Lyons failed to attend on two separate occasions.
Barrister Paul Wood representing Gallacher said: 'This was an act of immaturity but she has now stopped using ketamine. She has disassociated from peers who were more pro-drug. She lives with her parents who are described as upset but supportive. She has learnt her lesson and there is genuine remorse.'
Gallacher claimed to have been paid to take the drugs into the festival and made arrangements on the coach
Gallacher gave no comment in a police interview whilst Lyons failed to attend on two separate occasions
For Lyon's defence counsel Oliver Saddington said his client's parents had both died due to a drug use and added: 'It is astonishing to me as it is to the court, that he now appears to be sentenced for drugs offences bearing in mind what happened to his parents. It's a painful irony.'
Last January Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, said the government will seek expert advice on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance, after illegal use of the drug reached record levels in the year ending March 2023 with figures showing an estimated 299,000 people aged 16-59 admitting ketamine use.
It can cause serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys, and is one of the most detected drugs in incidents of spiking.
Recent reports have shown ketamine is often an ingredient included in 'pink cocaine', the dangerous synthetic drug cocktail taken by users without knowing what mix of substances it contain.
