POLICE have sent a warning to young people in Malmesbury after a teenager was fined for being in possession of a class B drug in the town.

Connor Vine, 18, admitted possessing 0.9g of ketamine at Swindon Magistrates’ Court last week, after he was discovered by Malmesbury police with the substance in Station Road car park on February 23.

Vine, of Newton Grove, was discharged conditionally for six months and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victims surcharge of £20.

The guidelines for the sentence mean that Vine must not commit another drugsoffence within the next six months, or he will face further punishment.

The court appearance is the latest development in a series of drugs related incidents that have forced police to redouble their efforts in Malmesbury.

A police spokeswoman said: “We’ve done a lot of work to target drug dealing that is happening in Malmesbury, to protect the town’s young people and stop the trade escalating.

"Our work is still ongoing and Iunderstand that, although this seems like a minor offence, it is a class B drug, possession of which is illegal.

“It has the potential to pose a threat to the lives of young people in Malmesbury and it is the onus of young people themselves not to take the drug in order to ensure they don’t get a criminal record.”

Two weeks ago, officers were praised for their “tenacity” after taking another step forward in their fight to tackle drug crime in Malmesbury when they arrested a teenager who fled from a car.

After a chase through the town centre, the 18-year-old was discovered in possession of cannabis and a substance believed to be a class A drug.