A LOTTERY winner who supplied a variety of drugs to friends was jailed for nine months on Friday.

Surinder Singh, 53, won £2.1m on the National Lottery after his home and fish and chip shop had been raided by the police.

One of his “customers” was a 64-year-old who would be supplied amphetamine every month, making him £60.

But Singh, who ran Wye Fisheries in Stanhope Square, Ashford, until his win, was not said to be dealing for profit.

Dominic Webber, defending, told Maidstone Crown Court: “It was a non commercial, without profit, social supply, namely the sharing of his own drugs with others.”

Police raided Singh’s home in Brookfield Court, Ashford, and his business premises in December 2003, and found cannabis resin, ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamine.

The court heard that the total street value of all the drugs was between £515 and £840.

Singh was arrested and he initially told police that all the drugs were for his own use.

Ian Foinette, prosecuting, said: “The defendant said he would go out on a regular basis to buy the drugs but was not prepared to say from whom.

“He had a fairly heavy habit and would buy drugs every other week. He said his addiction cost him £200 a week.”

Singh appeared at the crown court in October last year and admitted possessing 7.351g of cannabis resin and possessing 65.7g of amphetamine with intent to supply on December 9 2003.

At a further hearing in March this year he pleaded guilty to three other offences of possession of a class B drug – namely cannabis resin and cannabis – with intent to supply and possessing 4.07g of the class A drug cocaine with intent to supply on December 9 2003.

Singh also admitted possessing 31.6g of cannabis resin with intent to supply on February 16 last year. By this time the drug had been downgraded to class C.

Two further offences of simple possession of 254 mlg of ecstasy and possessing 31.9g of cannabis resin with intent to supply were left on file.

The court heard his total benefit from supplying drugs was £3,124.

At the time of his arrest Singh was said by Mr Webber to be leading a hectic and stressful lifestyle, living and working full-time at his fish and chip shop. He said taking drugs was “part and parcel” of his daily life.

“His financial situation did not demonstrate that he was dealing for profit. He was an habitual user of cannabis, and also cocaine on a smaller scale, and he would share some of it, in particular with his girlfriend,” Mr Webber told the court.

Singh also supplied amphetamine. “He would supply 2oz of amphetamine per month to an habitual user aged 64,” explained Mr Webber. “It would make him a small profit.”

But the court heard how Singh’s subsequent lottery win had affected him.

“His lifestyle has changed substantially since then,” said Mr Webber. “He is now in different circumstances than he was at the time of his arrest.”

Mr Webber said Singh was no longer working and had more time to socialise. He had also attended a number of counselling sessions to deal with his drug problem, although the court heard he continued to use cannabis and was also a heavy drinker.

Mr Webber urged the court to suspend any prison sentence. “His change in circumstances make it highly unlikely that he will return to the courts for the sort of offence that was originally suspected.”

However, Mr Recorder Charles Macdonald QC said he disregarded that and found there were no exceptional circumstances that would enable him to let Singh walk from court.

Referring to the charge of possessing amphetamine with intent he added: “When taken alone or together with the other offences, this count is so serious that only a custodial sentence is justified.”

Singh was sentenced to nine months for that offence, and six months and three weeks concurrent on each of the other charges.

Recorder Macdonald also ordered that he pay the £3,124 he made from supplying drugs. About £1,300 was seized by the police at the time of his arrest.

Singh must also pay £12,000 in court and defence costs, or serve three months in default. Mr Webber told the court, however, that Singh could write a cheque immediately.

Singh, the court heard, has 10 previous convictions for simple possession and one for possession with intent for supply.

His last conviction was in February when he admitted possessing cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamine.

He was born in the Punjab in India and came to England at the age of two-and-a-half.

Singh moved to Ashford when he was 21 and, the court was told, had lived at Brookfield Court and run his fish and chip shop for about five to six years.