A TEENAGER who imported drugs on the dark web so he could 'experiment' with their effects was told to 'grow up' by a judge.

Recorder Gareth Evans told Charlie Juson he did not believe the 19-year-old had imported the drugs entirely for his own use.

However, he said the crown prosecution service had not charged Juson with intent to supply so he must proceed to sentence on the basis he sought the drugs for personal use.

Juson's barrister, Silas Reid, said Juson had been described as a 'psychonaut' by a police expert which translates as a 'sailor of the soul', someone who experiments with altered states of consciousness.

Juson admitted importing a drug of class A into the country from Holland, three counts of possession of a controlled drug of class A, three of possession of a controlled drug of class B and three of possession of a controlled drug of class C when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

Christopher Lester, prosecuting, said Border Force intercepted a suspicious package from Holland bound for Juson's home address in Highmore Street, Hereford on October 24 last year. When it was opened MDMA ecstasy tablets were found inside and the package was passed to police who carried out a warrant at Juson's home.

There they found more drugs, including 2.5g of ketamine worth about £50, £5 of amphetamines, a further wrap of ketamine worth £20 and three packages of drugs that contained hallucinogenic mushrooms and mephedrone.

Juson, who had no previous convictions, made full admissions in interview. Police found evidence that Juson had accessed the dark web to get the drugs from Holland.

Juson said people had contacted him asking about the drugs but he had never responded.

Silas Reid, defending, said the case did not fit easily within the guidelines and described Juson as a 'psychonaut', 'someone who tries as many different drugs as they can get their hands on'.

Mr Reid said Juson's father died at the age of 16 because of a condition the defendant had inherited.

"His arrest was a salutary lesson and then some" he told the court.

Juson had received counselling, a service which would be available to him in future.

Recorder Gareth Evans QC said: "This is a very unusual case.

"The first offence is, on the face of it, a very serious matter, importing drugs into this country but the crown prosecution service did not charge you with being in possession of any drugs with the intention of supplying.

"The case always has been that they're all for personal use and I will sentence you on that basis but please don't think for one moment I believe it."

He added: "It was an experiment. The experiment is over. Grow up."

Recorder Evans sentenced him to eight months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to pay £340 costs and a £140 victim surcharge. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Recorder Evans further ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs seized by police.