Jailed: Six years for Telford dealer who sold fatal Superman drug
A drug dealer has been jailed for six years for supplying the deadly Superman tablets which were linked to the death of a Telford father-of-three.
A judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court told Damien Malolepszy that he played a significant role in the death of Daniel Bagnall on New Year's Day, 2015.
Malolepszy was found guilty of four charges concerning the supply and possession of Class A and Class B drugs, and not guilty of one charge of supplying class a drugs.
He supplied ecstasy tablets marked with the Superman logo to 27-year-old Mr Bagnall hours before he died at his home on Woodside Road in Ketley. Reporting restrictions had been in place during the trial to prevent the linking of the case to the supply of the notorious Superman pills with the death of Mr Bagnall. These were lifted after the verdict and sentencing at the crown court yesterday.
Malolepszy, 29, had denied selling drugs to Nathan Crossley on New Year's Eve, 2014, and Mr Bagnall the following day.
Police raided a property where the defendant was listed as a tenant at the time in High Street, Hadley. Officers found a substantial amount of cannabis, pills and a set of electric weighing scales. But Malolepszy of Redlands Road in Hadley, said he had moved out and sub-let it to another Polish couple.
Malolepszy will serve six years imprisonment and, after he is released, will face automatic deportation to his home country of Poland.
Statements were read out in court from Daniel's partner Stacey Picken, the mother of this three children, and from Daniel's mother, Sharon Peters, who said they had found it difficult to cope with life after his death.
Sentencing, Judge Jim Tindall said: "I do not doubt that you were not high up in the pecking order of the drugs business. I fully accept that Daniel Bagnall was an adult, I fully accept he decided to take alcohol and cocaine and half a Superman tablet before you dealt to him. I also take into account that you warned him that the tablets were strong and more than one tablet should not be taken. But you knew the drugs were dangerous and that is why you gave the warning. As a result of the drugs you sold Daniel, on top of the cocktail of other drugs taken, it is clear from the medical evidence a significant contributing part in his death was following the deal you did with him.
"That loss is still a great source of pain to Mr Bagnall's family."
After the case, Detective Sergeant Jez Gardner said: "I hope this sentence sends out a clear message to those involved in the supply of drugs that you will be caught and brought to justice.
"It is not only illegal to buy and sell drugs but it can also be very dangerous, potentially fatal, for people to take them. We are urging the public not to be tempted to take drugs; you don't know what they are made of, where they have come from or what effects they may have."
Anyone who has information about the supply of illegal substances is asked to contact police by calling 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
Information on drug abuse is available by calling FRANK on 0300 123 6600 or by visiting www.talktofrank.com
