Crystal meth manufacturer jailed

Gyger's stash of chemicals would have yielded £50,000 of the drug

A man has been sentenced to four years in prison after the discovery of the first crystal meth factory in the Northumbria Police force area.

Chemicals intended to produce the Class B drug were found at the North Shields home of Stuart Gyger in February.

Gyger, 37, of Dolphin Quay, admitted the production of a Class B drug at Newcastle Crown Court.

Crystal meth usage, which has reached epidemic levels in parts of the US and Australia, remains low in the UK.

However, police say there has been a "gradual rise" in the use of the drug, a highly-addictive form of amphetamine, which has been crystallised so that it can be smoked.

Since Gyger's arrest the drug has been reclassified to a Class A.

'Explosion risk'

The chemicals seized during the North Shields raid had the potential to yield a quantity with a street value of more than £50,000.

Det Ch Insp Ian Bentham, said: "This was the first crystal meth factory found by Northumbria Police officers in our force area and was a significant recovery.

"The chemicals seized would certainly have harmed people in our community had they been produced into the drug and reached their intended destination.

"Our officers were also concerned because of the way these chemicals were stored. We recognised there was a significant risk of explosion."

Crystal meth can give a massive high to users, but they can quickly become dependent and it can lead to serious mental health problems.

Paranoia, kidney failure, violence, internal bleeding and less inhibited sexual behaviour, are among the reported side effects of the drug.