Irishman caught with 30 MDMA pills at Creamfields jailed after eight years on run
An Irishman who was caught with 30 MDMA tablets at Creamfields festival in the UK has been jailed after 8 years on the run.
Aaron Godfrey (29) was stopped by security when trying to enter the festival on Sunday August 27th, 2017
The then 21-year-old was caught in possession of the drugs by a sniffer dog.
He was taken by staff to have his hands swabbed for traces of drugs, during which he tried to dispose of a small package containing orange tablets.
Security spotted the package, and when questioned, Godfrey said it contained ecstasy tablets.
He said that he had the drug hidden in his trousers, but put them in his jacket pocket after they fell out on his way to the festival.
He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
During questioning he told cops the tablets were for personal use at the festival, which was due to finish six hours after his arrival.
Police seized his phone, where they uncovered multiple texts about the sale of drugs.
Godfrey was charged and let out on bail.
He was due to appear before the courts, but fled back to Ireland, landing himself on a national wanted list.
Godfrey landed himself back in police custody in 2022, when he stepped of a plane in Birmingham.
He was arrested, and appeared in court, but was bailed once again and fled.
Interpol issued a red wanted notice, which resulted in his arrest last year when he arrived in Spain for a golfing holiday with friends.
Godfrey fought extradition, but was sent to the Netherlands, where the International Criminal Courts ruled he should be sent to Britain to face the drug charges.
He was handed an immediate six month prison sentence in December 2024 for twice failing to appear in court, and fleeing the country.
He once again appeared before the courts on Wednesday, where he was handed down a sentence of two years and 10 months for the MDMA pills at Creamfields.
In a statement following his conviction, Detective Neil Flemming, of the Creamfields Post Investigation Team, said he was 'glad' the judge dismissed Godfrey's claim the drugs were for his own personal use.
Aaron Godfrey
Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 13 2025
'Mr Godfrey's defence was that the drugs he was found with were for social supply to friends at the festival for no reward or payment, I am glad that the Judge dismissed this and the wording in his initial charge stood, this being that the drugs were for commercial supply.
'What started as a relatively straightforward investigation relating to the sale of drugs at Creamfields turned into a seven-year operation that required several law enforcement agencies across several countries to work collaboratively to locate, arrest and eventually bring Arron Godfrey to justice,' he continued.
'The irony is that Aaron Godfrey's refusal to take any accountability for his actions by fleeing the country not once, but twice, in an attempt to escape justice, has resulted in him landing more time in prison than he would have if he had just accepted his crimes.'
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