The son of a university lecturer was jailed for six years yesterday after his involvement with drugs was described as 'every parent's nightmare'.
Philip Matthew McGhee, 19, whose mother is an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong, agreed to help those who supplied him with drugs after being threatened with violence, the Court of First Instance heard.
Graham Harris, defending, said McGhee had developed a drug habit in his mid-teens and this was made worse by the bad company he fell in with.
'By the summer of 1999, he had gone well and truly off the rails,' he told the court.
McGhee admitted trafficking in 227 grams of the designer drug 'ice' (methamphetamine) when he was unable to pay debts to his suppliers.
'He tried in his own modest way to raise the sum from other sources, even to the extent of trying to sell his personal stereo, it is that sad,' Mr Harris said.
When unable to pay, the drug dealers told him he must help them.
