Wednesday 21 September 2022 05:59 PM Keelan Burton, who starred on MasterChef: The Professionals, spared jailed ... trends now
A former MasterChef star has been spared jail after he was caught drug-driving his Mercedes and carrying just under a quarter-kilo of cannabis.
The top chef Keelan Burton, who appeared as a contestant on BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals in 2018, appeared in Nottingham Crown Court today where he was sentenced for possessing cannabis with the intent to supply.
The 28-year-old from Cinderhill, in Nottingham, pleaded guilty to the charges after police saw him accelerating away from their unmarked car on May 9 2020.
He was later stopped by an officer who found another man in the back of Burton's car and a woman in the front passenger seat where there was a strong smell of cannabis in the vehicle.
Former MasterChef star Keelan Burton, 28, pictured outside Nottingham Crown Court today. Burton was sparred jail after he was caught drug-driving with just under a quarter-kilo of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to the charges of possessing cannabis with the intent to supply
Prosecutor Catherine Picardo said: 'The two passengers, according to police, were acting suspiciously as though they were trying to hide something.
'The defendant, at the time, was suggesting any drugs were nothing to do with him but, in fact, were to do with the male passenger in the rear.'
Burton then tested positive for drugs before he was fined and disqualified from driving.
In the car's boot was a plastic bag containing cannabis valued at £2,486. Fingerprints from Burton's left palm were found on the bag.
He was arrested and charged. At court today he pleaded guilty where he received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and was slapped with a £500 cost order.
Speaking outside court today, the MasterChef said the incident 'was a reality check'.
Speaking outside court today, the professional chef said the incident 'was a reality check'. He added that his drug use began following the break-up of his relationship with the mother of his two children and the loss of his job when the pandemic began in 2020
He told Nottingham Live that he was experiencing problems in his personal life by the end of 2019 following the break-up of his relationship with the mother of his two children.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 he was then left unemployed, despite working in some of the best restaurants in the country. It was then his drug use began.
He said: 'That's when it all started to go a bit pear-shaped. Drugs make you feel great but also ruin your life.
'In this trade, they ask for everything, take everything and give you nothing.'
When the award-winning chef's phone was later analysed by officers, messages were found from people who wanted to buy and supply the drug.
Officers also found on the phone requests for a type of strain of cannabis called 'lemon' and also 'purple buds'.
Another message showed a person asking for more details about how they could receive an ongoing supply.
Ms Picardo added:
