In court
Drugs accused turned up drunk

ONE of the men arrested as part of the huge crackdown on drugs in Rugby had to be ejected from court after turning up drunk.

John Berrill should have been in the dock at Warwick Crown Court - but instead he arrived the worse for wear and began abusing court staff.

The 40-year-old, of Siddaway House, Millers Dale Close, had to be removed from the court by security before the case could be heard because of his drunkeness.

It left Shane Tune, 26, of Knowle Close, Jake Cannell, 23, of Augustus Close in Cambridge, and Kwaku Amponsah 17, of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood in London, in the dock.

Prosecutor Emma Cutts said they and Berrill are all facing charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs after being arrested as part of Operation Aberfoyle.

The ‘test purchase’ operation involving undercover officers was the continuation of Operation Laser - set up by Warwickshire Police to combat organised crime and drug dealing.

So far 39 other people have already appeared at the court after being arrested as part of the crackdown.

David Rees, for Berrill, said he had turned up at court but was ‘the worse for wear’ and was ejected by security staff after becoming abusive.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said the hearing could go ahead in his absence and that it would be ‘a little harsh’ to issue a bench warrant since he had actually turned up.

He adjourned the case until March 1 when the four will be expected to enter a plea. Barristers for Cannell and Amponsah indictaed they will plead guilty to some charges.

Martin Groves, for Tune, applied for him to be granted bail in the meantime, pointing out it was his daughter’s first birthday on Friday.

But it was rejected by Judge Griffith-Jones who remanded both Tune and Cannell in custody.

Berrill and Amponsah were both granted bail.