A REVELLER who was caught with hundreds of pounds at Creamfields has been spared prison.

Marcus Grive, from Ellesmere Port, was found in possession of around £800 of ketamine when he was stopped by police upon entry to the Daresbury dance music festival.

The 20-year-old, who wept throughout a sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, was handed a sentence of 12 months in a young offenders institution, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possession with intent to supply ketamine.

Prosecuting, Michael Scholes said it was on August 27, 2021 when Grice was stopped at the entrance and subsequently strip searched.

In police interview, he claimed all the drugs found were for personal use during the festival, but he had since pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply.

Defending, Oliver Saddington said a pre-sentence report and letters from his family and employer had shown Grice was in full-time employment, worked hard and had built up a career in hospitality, and had caring responsibilities in his family, who were very precious to him.

He added that there was a good prospect of rehabilitation and his client was ashamed of what he had done.

Judge Simon Berkson, sentencing, said: "Creamfields is an annual music festival and derives its name from a nightclub in Liverpool which was famous for its house music in the 1990s.

"Creamfields is one of the last festivals in the summer season and attracts a large number of young festival goers.

"Cheshire Police invests heavily to make sure law-abiding people can have a safe time. People want to prevent getting on site. Bins are provided before people reach the barriers and there are clear and explicit warnings of the consequences of taking drugs into the festival.

"No-one can say that they did not know what would happen.

"You, despite those efforts, put a large amount of drugs inside your body to avoid being detected. You failed to heed the clear warnings. You were stopped from entering the festival.

"Drugs are inevitably sold at a premium in the festival due to being in short supply.

"You have no previous convictions and people are able to speak highly of you. It's sad to see someone such as yourself appear in court."

As part of the suspended sentence, Grice must carry out 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours unpaid work.