A PUPIL who supplied Ecstasy tablets to a girl and boy at a school has escaped custody after a judge heard that he had reformed.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was told by Judge Anthony Balston: “People who supply drugs, particularly class A drugs, to other children in school can ordinarily expect to go to prison.”

But he added: “Obviously, there is a difference between you as a pupil at the school and an older person hanging around outside the school peddling drugs to children.

“As you were so young at the time, I am prepared to take a course that doesn’t involve you going to prison.”

The teenager, from Gillingham, admitted two charges of supplying drugs. He was ordered to complete 100 hours community punishment and pay £200 costs.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that he was a pupil at his school near Maidstone in January last year when he supplied a girl, now 18, with three Ecstasy tablets and a boy, now 17, with one tablet. All three have since left the school.

Edmund Burge, prosecuting, said the girl and boy had heard on the grapevine that the teenager was involved in selling drugs.

The boy approached him and asked if he had any pills. He was offered a small round tablet with a smiley face on it for £3.

“He took it later that afternoon and had a significant buzz from it,” said Mr Burge. “He couldn’t keep still for a couple of hours and couldn’t stop talking.”

The same day, the teenager approached the girl and asked if she wanted to buy some pills. She bought three pills for £3 each.

“She took them home and threw them in the Medway river because she knew she should not have them,” said the prosecutor.”

The school found out and the police were informed. The teenager’s mother reported that he had gone missing.

An officer eventually contacted him on his mobile phone. The youth said he had been walking around Lordswood. He admitted he had “sorted out some people a couple of drugs”.

Adam Butler, defending, said the teenager had been going through a troubled time when he supplied the drugs. “Since then he has grown up,” he said. “He has changed and, most importantly, he has stayed out of trouble.”

Mr Butler said the teenager’s parents had split up and, with the help of a steady job, he had helped his mother pay the mortgage.

Submitting that a conditional discharge could be imposed, he added: “He has realised just how foolish he has been.”