Drugs counsellor faces ecstasy supply charge

[Abrad]

www.ashfieldtoday.co.uk
A HIGH profile drugs counsellor who stood as an independent candidate for Sutton East in last year's Nottinghamshire County Council elections has appeared before magistrates on drugs charges.
Reformed heroin addict Calvin Madin (40) — who used to live on Outram Street in Sutton but recently moved to Mansfield — has spent the past three years working on a campaign to convert the derelict Ollerton Hall into a rehabilitation centre site for local addicts.
He appeared before Mansfield magistrates on Thursday after admitting possessing cannabis –– and on 17th July he will be sent to Nottingham Crown Court accused of possessing ecstasy with intent to supply, which he denies.
During the hearing the magistrates agreed to suspend Madin's bail conditions so he could take a one-week holiday to Ibiza, with prosecutor Patrick Shannon saying he had 'no great fears' that Madin would fail to return.
Said Mr Shannon: "If he was going to abscond, the one thing he would not do is tell us in advance that he was going away."
The court was told Madin, of Wood Street, Mansfield, has 'strong community ties' and recently took out a mortgage to buy a new home.
Madin first came to public attention in 2003 as a reformed drug user fighting to highlight the problems of drug addiction and secure a 'life centre' for addicts with his drugs group Talkin' Communities.
He had spent 18 years as a drug addict until a spell at an Oxfordshire rehabilitation centre –– inspiring him to give the same lifeline for local addicts and focusing on the Grade-II listed Ollerton Hall as the perfect site.
He told Chad at the time: "What I'm trying to campaign for is treatment for long-term drug users.
"While you have got long-term drug users on the streets all that bad information just gets passed down.
"We need to create positive role models, not negative ones."
The Ollerton bid was led by Nottingham addiction support organisation Two Ways, and company director Chris Smith said he was 'surprised' by the news of the charges –– adding that he had not seen Madin since the bid was rejected just over a month ago.
Two Ways is continuing its campaign to set up a local rehabilitation centre and is understood to be currently considering other potential premises.