A DRUG dealer who plotted to sell class A substances at the Beatherder festival last year has been jailed for four years.

Jason Davenport, 34, was caught in an Audi A3 with hairdresser Gemma Hartin, 30, as they made their way to the Ribble Valley festival on July 17.

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Preston Crown Court heard officers spotted the car as it had been identified in a number of petrol station drive-off incidents but when they searched the vehicle they found £700 of ecstasy.

Their phones were seized and it became clear that Davenport had bought a bulk amount of the drug for himself and to sell to friends and revellers at Beatherder.

Hartley, who was driving, had also tried to buy ecstasy.

The pair appeared side by side in the dock at to face sentence.

The court heard Hartin, a single mum-of-two, had been going through a difficult time following the break-up with her children’s father.

She runs a salon in Morecambe and is relied on by her staff for their employment.

Davenport, of Claremont Road, Accrington, had stayed out of trouble since he was sentenced for drugs offences in 2008.

Earlier this year he overdosed on legal highs and was seriously ill in hospital and has not touched drugs since, the court heard.

Recorder John Ainsworth, sentencing, told Davenport: “You were on your way to the festival with a significant amount of ecstasy.

“The true story of that emerged when the police analysed your phone and it indicated for some days and weeks before the festival you were arranging a bulk purchase.

“There is no doubt some of the drugs would have been consumed by you and close friends but also would have been available for other festival goers.

“The court has to consider the impact of having drugs such as this circulating at music festivals.”

Davenport pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Hartin, of Dalton Road, Morecambe, admitted attempting to possess class A drugs.

She was sentenced to two months suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.