Man In The Dock Over T In The Park Hoax

A heating engineer who tried to pass off a mixture of paracetamol and caffeine as cocaine at T in the Park claimed it was a prank.

But Jack Campbell, 25, ended up in the dock after his festival "joke" backfired and was described by a sheriff as "a daft young man."

Campbell had two bags of white powder and approached two festival-goers asking if they wanted to buy cocaine from him.

They told him they did not, but he continued to pester them so much that they eventually got fed-up and reported him to security staff.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the bags looked like cocaine deals, but when the contents were analysed they were only found to contain paracetamol and caffeine.

Campbell, Castle Road, Bridge of Weir, admitted attempting to commit an offence by offering cocaine when it was a mixture of uncontrolled drugs.

He also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by pretending he was David Carsley, Moss Road, Bridge of Weir, at T in the Park on 13 July. He also admitted having amphetamine hidden in his shoe.

Fiscal depute Carol Whyte said: "The accused approached two people and offered coke for sale. They saw he was holding two bags containing white powder.

"They walked away from him. A few minutes later they were again offered coke by the accused. The two festival-goers pointed out the accused to police officers.

"He was detained. The bags were analysed and found to contain paracetamol and caffeine."

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "He was at the festival with his girlfriend and other friends. He was intoxicated, having taken alcohol and amphetamine.

"Somebody thought it would be a good idea to have a joke and pretend it was cocaine. Now, in the cold light of day, it is not very funny to pretend to have this substance."

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis warned Campbell that his prank had taken him close to being jailed and ordered him to carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community.