Finding Normal

An ex-junkie who gave his friend a fatal dose of methadone has been jailed for two years.

Lawrence Palmer, 33, I hate when recovering addicts or even acive addicts are referred to as "junkies".of Pell Street, Katesgrove, had bumped into old friend James Patey on Tuesday, May 6, last year, and embarked on a lethal drink and drug binge.

The two consumed six litres of cider, six cans of strong cider and crack cocaine. Cocaine is the leading killer of all drugs so how can it be determined that this combo alone with the added complications from HCV noted later wouldn't have killed him by themselves?

Palmer then invited Mr Patey to his mother’s house where they decided to go on one last blow-out before de-toxing the next day, Reading Crown Court heard on Friday last week.

When Mr Patey asked Palmer for some of his methadone – which he was taking to try to kick his heroin addiction – Palmer handed over 30mls of the Class A drug which Mr Patey then drank.It makes me so mad that the fact that these people ask for the drug that the courts say killed them and yet they are not held accountable. If I ask to buy a pack of cigarettes and die of lung cancer I can't blame every the person who sold them to me & if I buy alcohol, drink it, drive, wreck, kill an innocent, die myself, the family cannot sue the person who sold the alcohol or the alcohol company and the latter involves the death of someone else.

The pair went to sleep top-to-tail in Palmer’s bed at around 5pm but when Palmer’s mother came to wake them at lunchtime the next day it was clear Mr Patey was already dead.

Palmer admitted a charge of supplying a Class A drug at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Decand was told at his sentencing at Reading Crown Court on Friday that although the methadone was taken voluntarily by Mr Patey last year, , the case was a prime example of the dangers of supplying Class A drugs.

The court heard the post-mortem examination revealed Mr Patey had 247mgs of alcohol in a 100mls of blood, more than three times the drink/drive limit, combined with a significant level of crack cocaine and around 30mls of methadone. A significant level of crack cocaine? Ok which is more deadly? 3x's the legal limit of alcohol with a significant amount of crack or 30ml of methadone?

The combination of drink and drugs alongside the fact Mr Patey suffered from hepatitis C meant his metabolism could not cope with the levels of substance in his body, the court heard. Actually the enormous amount of alcohol would have posed the greatest risk to someone with HCV.

Gillian Hunter-Jones, defending, said: “Mr Palmer’s previous convictions all relate to his drug misuse but he had no previous offences of supplying drugs.

"Once the heroin use stopped in 2006, after a term in prison, there was a substantial slow down in his offending.

“Mr Palmer works in the construction industry and provides money for his children.

“His drinking however has increased when work was not available. He has an excellent relationship with his children who he helps with their schoolwork every weekend.”

She added: “He has recently completed a drink rehabilitation course and is trying hard to get his life back on track.”

Sentencing, Judge Anthony King said: “This case is a striking illustration of why it is illegal to provide Class A drugs. You are guilty of manslaughter and I do not sentence you on that basis but you will carry with you for the rest of your life the fact that it is partly as a result of your act that led to the circumstances in which he met his death.

“If ever there was an example of the harm of supplying Class A drugs this is it.”It doesn't say what the charge is.

Palmer, who has a 10-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter with his ex-wife, went to school with Mr Patey.

Palmer, who has 18 previous convictions relating to 52 offences of dishonesty, sat red-faced and weeping in the dock as he was sentenced to a two-year prison term of which half will be served in custody.