Man charged over danger dance drug

AN OLDHAM-born man is accused of producing a potentially lethal new dance drug.

Nigel James Proffitt faces charges of producing Benzylpiperazine — known as BZP — which is said to have similar effects to Ecstasy and amphetamines.

The stimulant, originally designed as a cattle wormer, is marketed in the UK as a legal alternative to Ecstasy. But while it is not illegal to possess it in the UK, it is illegal to produce the drug without a licence.

Two people have died after mixing BZP with Ecstasy and it has been found during post mortem examinations on two road accident victims in Britain. In America, it’s classified as Schedule 1, the same as heroin, and its sale is also banned in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe.

Mr Proffitt, who also goes by the aliases James Jones and Michael Danning, was arrested in Blackpool where clubbers have been warned not to dabble with the drug.

He faces four charges under the 1968 Medicines Act and is on bail to appear at Blackpool Magistrates Court on July 16 when he is expected to enter a plea. A warrant for his arrest was issued by magistrates when he failed to attend an earlier hearing, but he has since appeared at court.

Mr Proffitt gave his address as Park Road, Blackpool, and it is not known if he still spends time in Oldham, where he lived until recently.

Det Sgt Paul Boyes, of Blackpool Police’s intelligence unit, said: “Mr Proffitt professes to be a promotions manager arranging music nights in clubs in Blackpool, and he’s linked to businesses in Blackpool.

“BZP is a new drug that we have come across that has the same effect as amphetamines and people use it locally. I would have thought it has spread everywhere by now.”