Ex-justice minister admits possessing crystal meth and cannabis

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PA Media A elderly man wearing glasses and a black suit. He has grey hair and is bald. PA Media

Crispin Blunt had represented Reigate as an MP for more than two decades

The former Conservative MP and justice minister Crispin Blunt has been fined after pleading guilty to possessing illegal drugs, including cannabis and crystal meth.

He admitted to four drugs charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court, following a police raid on his Surrey home in October 2023.

The 65-year-old was found with the chemical sedative GBL, cannabis and methamphetamine - commonly known as crystal meth.

Blunt, who hit out at the decision to charge him and suggested all drugs should be legal, was fined £1,200.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram told him that as minister for prisons, probation and justice he had "served as a role model to all".

"Your actions have risked undermining confidence in all Parliamentarians by breaking the very laws you enacted," he said.

The ex-MP for Reigate was under investigation on suspicion of rape when officers discovered the drugs.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing class A drugs and three charges of possession of class B drugs at the hearing on Wednesday.

In a speech lasting more than 30 minutes, Blunt told the court he had fallen victim to a blackmail and extortion plot from his drug dealer.

He argued he should have been acquitted on the basis that charges for possessing drugs should not exist.

Politicians have "sat with moral simplicity that drugs are bad... without regard to the appalling consequences of that simple position", Blunt said.

He added "first-hand experience" - including hosting drug-fuelled chemsex parties at his home in Horley - had helped inform his interest in drugs policy reform.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS special crime division, previously said there was "sufficient evidence" to bring Blunt's case to court.

Surrey Police said in May last year no further action would be taken over the rape allegation due to insufficient evidence after an 18-month investigation.

Blunt said at the time he was "confident" he would not be charged.

PA Media Former MP Crispin Blunt, wearing glasses and talking in a close-up imagePA Media

Blunt was charged after police searched his home in Surrey

Blunt served in David Cameron's government as parliamentary under-secretary of state for prisons and youth justice from 2010 to 2012.

He went on to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2015 to 2017.

Blunt lost the Tory whip in October 2023 when he was arrested by police, from which point he sat as an independent.

The graduate of the Sandhurst Military Academy stood down as an MP at the 2024 general election.

He spent more than a decade as an officer in the British Army before entering politics.


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