Top chef Keelan Burton, who appeared as a contestant on BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals in 2018, has been spared jail after he was caught in his Mercedes with just under a quarter-kilo of cannabis. Burton, a former finalist in the Nottinghamshire Food and Drink Awards young chef competition, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (September 21) where he was sentenced for possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
The 28-year-old, of Walbrook Close, Cinderhill, who is now a shareholder and executive chef at two Nottingham restaurants, had pleaded guilty to the charge after police saw him accelerating away from their unmarked car at 10.20pm on May 9, 2020. He stopped after he headed along Hempshill Lane, towards Crabtree Road, Bullwell, said Catherine Picardo, prosecuting.
A man was in the back and a woman in the front passenger seat of the vehicle with Burton driving. A strong smell of cannabis eminated from the car. "The two passengers, according to police, were acting suspiciously as though they were trying to hide something," said Ms Picardo.
READ MORE: Colin Gunn interview tapes - his denials and how he was on holiday
"The defendant, at the time, was suggesting any drugs were nothing to do with him but, in fact, were to do with the male passenger in the rear." Burton tested positive for drugs, and was later fined and disqualified from driving.
In the car's boot was a plastic bag containing cannabis, valued at £2,486. Burton's left palm print was found on the bag. He was arrested and charged, going on to plead guilty and receiving an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and a £500 costs order.
When his phone was analysed, messages were from those who wanted to buy and supply, with a request for a type of strain of cannabis called "lemon" and for "purple buds". Someone asked for more details about being supplied and how they would discuss ongoing supply.
"The user of the phone, the defendant, offers one ounce for £165," added Ms Picardo. "Also, an orange strain of cannabis offered, which would cost a bit more, £170. But, in short, those were messages which were all strong evidence to support the case of supplying this Class B drug."
No further action was taken over the passengers in the car. The defendant said he bought a small amount of drugs from one person.
But, in a second police interview, he largely answered "no comment", and went on to plead guilty at the first opportunity at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He has a previous conviction for drug-driving - a charge relating to the same incident - and a previous caution for possessing a Class A drug (not specified in court). Judge Mark Watson ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the bag of cannabis and phone.
Benn Robinson, mitigating, said it was obvious from Burton's record "he is not someone who has made a habit of crossing the line". He was doing well, in a relationship with two children together, he added.
"He was working as a chef and this took him all over the country, and he tells me he was an award-winning chef." At the end of 2019, Burton's relationship broke down which seemed to be the "catalyst", said Mr Robinson, to some of the difficulties and other things went out of his control.
He struggled with access to his children and, at the same time, he got in with a group of peers who were not "necessarily helpful to him", added Mr Robinson. He was using cannabis to "take the edge of those events".
His paid work stopped and the pandemic hit. "He lost his job because there was no requirement for anyone to go out and eat," said Mr Robinson.
Cannabis is not free, he pointed out, and his client had his addiction, so he was selling cannabis to fund this and "keeping the wolf from the door". He referred to Burton's work now as a shareholder and executive chef at two Nottingham restaurants, and how his client works 17-hour days across both eateries - one in Beeston and one in Canning Circus.
Far from his cannabis-using days, Burton now manages a team of 50, working between Canning Circus's Sans Patrie and Bar Sans Patrie, and Beeston's new Italian restaurant Ottimo, which opened recently as part of the town's multi-million-pound Beeston Square development. At the weekends he looks after his two children and has no free time whatsoever, the court was told.
"He had suffered anxiety of these proceedings hanging over his head for this period of time," added Mr Robinson. Judge Watson told Burton he was a street dealer "albeit in larger amounts than single deals".
The judge suspended the prison sentence, given the age of the offence now. The case has had a two-year delay which was not Burton's fault. "In the two years that have passed, you have moved on from associates who dragged you into this criminal enterprise, and made a success of yourself," said the judge.
READ NEXT:
