A university student who was found selling laughing gas canisters outside a pub has walked free from court. Kiasar Markl, 22, was caught red-handed by police whilst dealing nitrous oxide, a psychoactive substance which is banned for sale for recreational use.
The final year undergraduate student was selling the illegal substance near the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey, Wirral and was arrested outside the pub on June 4 last year. The court heard on Monday that following the 22-year-old's arrest, his flat was raided and around 3,000 nitrous oxide canisters were found on him and at the address.
Despite having made more than £10,000 in cash from his dealings, Kiasar walked free from Liverpool Crown Court on January 9. The judge described him as "foolish and naive".
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Markl - of Leasowe Road, Leasowe - had been selling boxes of 20 for £5 each. Cash totalling £10,280 was discovered in his bedroom, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Marlowe, who has 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 imprisonment 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 naive. If you had thought about the consequences, I don't suppose you would have done it.
"I will treat you as someone foolish and naive 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."
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