A MAN and woman involved in the supply of illegal drugs at a music festival have been spared immediate prison terms.

Leah Woods, 26, sourced both ecstasy and cannabis for 24-year-old Jack Bell, who then peddled the substances while attending Northbound, near Cockermouth.

At the time, in August last year, Woods was training to be a social worker and Bell harboured ambitions of becoming a nurse.

But Carlisle Crown Court heard those career hopes now lay in tatters because of their criminal conduct. The pair were sentenced today after both admitted charges of supplying ecstasy and cannabis.

Bell, of Criffel Road, Parton, also confessed to possessing cannabis with intent to supply, and ecstasy possession.

Bell was found to have hundreds of pounds worth of drugs in his possession when detained by security staff on August 9.

Text messages between he and Woods, of Greystone Place, Cleator Moor, alerted police to their supply crimes.

Recorder Philip Curran noted the pair had no previous convictions and was told by their respective barrister they were unlikely to commit any further offences.

“These are serious offences. The reality is, sadly, that ecstasy tablets can kill people and do,” he said.

“Providing them at a festival where young people may be open to behaviour which perhaps they may not normally engage in, risky behaviour, in taking drugs, can be highly dangerous.”

But in view of the mitigation put forward, Recorder Curran decided to “take a chance” on Woods and Bell. They were each given two-year prison sentences, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 250 hours’ unpaid work.

In addition, Bell must observe a three-month night-time curfew.

But the judge told them: “Be in no doubt whatsoever that if you were to breach this order and be brought back to this court you will be sent to prison.”