A MAN has been jailed after he tried to sell Class A drugs to a security officer at the Reading Festival.

Matthew Madigan, 26, from North Cheam, appeared via video link at Reading Crown Court today (February 9).

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, as well as two counts of possession of Class B drugs.

The court heard how the defendant was caught at the Reading Festival last August with thousands of pounds worth of drugs - including cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and cannabis.

Madigan had offered to supply to another man at the festival - unaware that he was an undercover security officer.

He was subsequently detained, before being handed over to the police.

On his person, officers found almost £3,000 of ketamine and almost £1,000 of MDMA, as well as small quantities of cannabis and cocaine.

Madigan told police that he was only dealing to a closed circle of friends at the festival.

However, Judge Joanna Matson shot down these claims, stating that the defendant's activity amounted to 'street dealing'.

She drew attention to the large quantities seized, as well as Madigan's solicitation of security staff - which did not suggest the drugs were solely for personal use.

This is not the first time the defendant had been caught with drugs at a festival.

In 2018, Madigan received a suspended sentence after he was found with cocaine, cannabis and MDMA at the NASS Festival in Somerset.

Judge Matson told the court that Madigan's offending posed a risk to other festival-goers, many of whom would have been school-aged.

She said: "We hear stories of people dying because they've taken ecstasy at festivals, very young people trying drugs - often for the first time.

"Who knows what could be in those drugs? That is what happens when you deal drugs to very young people."

The judge jailed Madigan for two years and seven months. He will serve half of this sentence on licence, and has been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.

In addition, the drugs, cash, and a Stanley knife found on Madigan at the festival will be destroyed.