Mum and young son terrified by '˜Spice' user

District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court described Spice as “an horrendous substance because of the things it does to people.”

The judge made his comments while dealing with the case of a man who suffered mental health problems after becoming addicted to Spice.

Benjamin Harding, 25, of Clevedon Road, North Shore, pleaded guilty to causing £150 of damage to patio doors when he kicked them in, terrifying a mother and her young son.

The Gazette revealed last month how people were openly smoking what is believed to be Spice on the streets of the town.

Video footage filmed by both The Gazette and members of the public showed people apparently under the influence of the drug frozen like statues.

Harding was sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for 12 months, put on three months drug rehabilitation, ordered to pay £100 compensation and put on a one year restraining order which bans him from contact the victim or going within 50 metres of her home.

Judge Brailsford told him: “I’m told there have been issues with you using Spice and that had affected your mental health.

“I’m not surprised to hear that. It is the most horrible substance because of the things it does to people.

“I only wish the greater public knew the damage that substance causes. There is now a campaign to make people aware of what such drugs do to them.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said a mother was at home with her young son when Harding banged on her door shouting he wanted a television back a friend had given her on April 16 at 7.30pm.

He eventually kicked in her patio door before walking off, leaving her scared for the safety of herself and her son and worried he would return.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said: “He has been suffering from the ongoing use of Spice and has mental health problems attached to its use.”

Harding had now stopped using Spice.

He had seen a doctor, who prescribed medication for him, and he had arranged to see a psychiatrist.

In Lancashire nearly as many Spice related incidents were reported in the first four months of 2017 as were reported in the whole of 2015.

Almost have of all reported incidents involving Spice this year have been in Blackpool.