22-year-old from Dersingham found unconscious in road by off-duty police officer after taking ketamine

A 22-year-old was found unresponsive in the middle of a road by an off-duty police officer after taking ketamine.

Ryan Vertigan, of Holyrood Drove in Dersingham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted to having both ketamine and cannabis in his possession.

On August 7, an off-duty policeman found Vertigan lying unresponsive on a Dersingham Road with white powder around his nose.

Prosecutor Sarah Fiddy said that the officer thought Vertigan was overdosing.

A bag of white crystals, which was ketamine, was found in his possession along with a tube of cannabis.

Vertigan had a total of three drug offences to his name.

In mitigation, George Sorrell said Vertigan has had previous problems with taking drugs but has recently completed a course with charity CGL (Change, Grow, Live).

“The defendant was luckily found by an off-duty police officer. It must be a dangerous thing to do,” said Mr Sorrell.

Mr Sorrell asked if Vertigan could be referred to the probation service before being sentenced.

“He could find himself in a position where this could happen again,” said Mr Sorrell.

Vertigan will have a meeting with the probation service before returning to Lynn Magistrates’ Court on November 1.