Man jailed for giving friend methadone

A man who gave methadone to his friend despite being told it could kill him will spend two years in jail.

Robert Maxwell, 31, of Bedford Road, Barton, in Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to supplying methadone.

He met 23-year-old Jeremy Waller when they were in a drug rehabilitation clinic in 2000, St Albans crown court heard.

Maxwell went to Mr Waller's home in Hillfield, Hatfield on 9 July this year and supplied him with the drug which caused his collapse.

Supplying drugs like this crosses the custody threshold, particularly as what you did was against the specific warning of the parents

Judge Seddon Cripps

Prosecutor Ann Evans said Mr Waller had been a heroin addict who took methadone as part of his treatment but had developed health problems after an overdose.

When Maxwell called at his home Mr Waller's mother told him that if Jeremy took any more drugs it would kill him.

An hour later Mrs Waller found that her son had collapsed on the floor with blue lips.

Paramedics used a drug to reverse the effects of the overdose, and a needle and small ampule were recovered from the bedroom.

'Russian roulette'

He was taken to the QE2 hospital and released on 19 July.

Defence barrister Frances Rowe said Maxwell had not supplied the drug for any financial gain and would never supply drugs again.

She said he described what he had done as "playing Russian roulette".

Judge Seddon Cripps told him: "Supplying drugs like this crosses the custody threshold, particularly as what you did was against the specific warning of the parents."