A university student who pocketed more than £10,000 illegally selling laughing gas cannisters outside a pub has walked free from court. Police spotted Kiasar Markl dealing nitrous oxide, which is a psychoactive substance and cannot be sold for recreational use.
A court heard on Monday that Markl, 22, had his flat raided after he was arrested outside the pub on June 4, 2022. Police found around 3,000 cannisters, some on his person and the rest in the flat, reports the Liverpool ECHO.
Markl, of Leasowe Road, Leasowe, had been selling boxes of 20 for £5 each near to the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey, Wirral. Police also discovered money totalling £10,280 in his bedroom.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Markl, who was a final year undergraduate student at the time, was "foolish and naive". Marlk, who had no previous convictions, is now continuing his studies.
He admitted possession a psychoactive substance with intent to supply and possession of criminal property and was handed an eight-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, as well as being told to carry out unpaid work.
Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton said: "Nitrous oxide is not harmless. It is not as harmful as heroin or crack cocaine. If you were selling those, you would be going to prison for a long time. But it is harmful. It can cause death.
"That possibility is a rare one, but nonetheless you were making a lot of money from selling illegal something that is illegal and potentially harmful. You described what you were doing as stupidity, but it was also greed.
"I accept you were naïve. If you had thought about the consequences, I don't suppose you would have done it. I will treat you as someone foolish and naïve and who does genuinely regret it. You are going to have to rebuild your reputation. I hope sincerely that you have learned your lesson from this. Time will tell."
