Jail for Liverpool man caught with ketamine in hotel room 

31-year-old's claims that drug was for personal use described as 'nonsense'

A Liverpool man who was caught with thousands of pounds worth of ketamine at a Douglas hotel has been jailed.

Thomas Anthony Fitzsimmons was told his claim that the drugs recovered from his room were for his personal use was ‘clearly nonsense’ during sentencing at Douglas Courthouse.

Police arrested the 31-year-old at the Mannin Hotel, just after 5am on 5 March, after reports that he was causing damage; he was located slumped outside and told officers he’d taken ‘a lot of ket’.

When they searched his room they found 0.5 grams of cannabis, with a street value of £10, and 172 grams of ketamine valued at between £6,983 and £8,617.

Fitzsimmons told police he’d paid £250 for five ounces of the Class B drug when he arrived on the Island, four days earlier, adding he thought he’d paid a lower price because it was a ‘bad batch’.

Fitzsimmons, of Woodsorrel Road, also informed officers he took two ounces of ketamine daily - he later pleaded guilty to possessing the Class B drug with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and causing damage to property.

Prosecutor James Robinson described Fitzsimmons claims as an ‘interesting proposition’ adding that information from the police showed ketamine usage was ‘clearly on the rise in the Isle of Man’.

During sentencing the Liverpool man’s advocate said whilst she accepted ketamine usage was more prevalent there had not been a ‘stark increase’ in the last six years.

Sending Fitzsimmons to prison for 38 months Deemster Graeme Cook said ketamine was an ‘emerging, unlawful drug’ adding: “I take the view that it is my public duty is to impose a deterrent sentence.”