Addict attacked partner to fund legal high habit

A man from County Tyrone has attacked and robbed his partner to obtain money in order to buy Magic Dragon, a legal high drug.

Mark Corry, aged 32, is being tried at the high court after being arrested for breaking into his female partner’s home, grabbing hold of her and dragging her around her house, and stealing £40 to buy the drug. He is being prosecuted on charges of burglary, robbery, assault, and resisting arrest. Mr Corry was refused bail because the court deemed it likely that he would commit further crimes. Although the woman subsequently withdrew her complaint, the police decided to pursue the criminal charge.

The prosecution counsel claimed: “(The woman) said the applicant had attacked her to get money to buy a substance known as Magic Dragon, which is sold as a legal high.”

Magic Dragon is just one of many legal high drugs freely available for sale in Omagh and many other retail outlets throughout the UK. The packaging for legal highs often displays the disclaimer ‘not for human consumption’ to get round the law on selling drugs.

Mr Corry is understood to be addicted to the substance. Legal highs are believed to be just as addictive as certain class A drugs, such as heroin and ecstasy, and produce similar effects, altering the mind of the user. Recent statistics have shown that legal highs are responsible for more deaths in the UK than heroin.