Dance drug charges denied

AN OLDHAM-born man is to deny charges of producing a potentially lethal new dance drug.

James Jones is accused by the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulations Agency (MHRA) of producing Benzylpiperazine — known as BZP —which is said to have similar effects to Ecstasy and amphetamines.

He faces four charges under the 1968 Medicines Act and will appear in court at Blackpool on July 16, when he says he will plead not guilty.

The drug, originally designed as a cattle wormer, is marketed in the UK as an alternative to Ecstasy.

The MHRA says it is illegal to manufacture the drug without a licence but Mr Jones insists it is not illegal and that his hearing is a test case.

Mr Jones stresses the case is a civil hearing and he has not been arrested by police.

He said he failed to attend an earlier hearing as he had not been sent the summons.