Security staff at the Latitude festival at Henham Park in 2024 detained Nathan Lewis and Tariq Attah-Sido after seeing them acting suspiciously, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The police were called and when their tents were searched a “significant “ amount of class A and B drugs were found in Lewis’s tent, said Richard Potts, prosecuting.

He said an expert had put a potential street value of the cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine at between £5,450 and £5,700.

Mr Potts said the men were found in possession of bank card readers to take payments and a quantity of “business” cards with their initials and mobile phone numbers on.

Mr Potts told the court that the organisers of the festival took security very seriously especially in relation to the supply of drugs.

 Attah-Sido, 26, of Seymour Villas, London, admitted three offences of being concerned in the supply of drugs and was given 22 month prison sentence suspended for two years, a 12 day rehabilitation activity requirement and was ordered to do150 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £150 costs.

Lewis, 27, of Marston Way, London, admitted three offences of possessing drugs with intent to supply and was given a 20 month prison sentence suspended for two years, a 12 day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to do 140 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £100 costs.

Sentencing the men, Recorder Jeremy Benson said neither of them had previous convictions and could be rehabilitated in the community.

Zoe Darling for Lewis said her client carried out sports coaching sessions at primary schools and was nearing the end of a construction management degree.

“He is deeply sorry for his actions,” she said.

She said Lewis’s arrest had been a wakeup call for him and she urged the court not to pass an immediate prison sentence.

Tamasin Graham for Attah-Sido said her client was nearing the end of an engineering degree course and was remorseful.

© Eastern Daily Press