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| Suspected gangster accused of swallowing drugs 'at risk of death' after refusing to go to toilet for 37 days | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A suspected drug dealer has refused to use the toilet for 37 days and is now at “risk of death”, a court has been told. | A suspected drug dealer has refused to use the toilet for 37 days and is now at “risk of death”, a court has been told. |
| Lamarr Chambers, 24, allegedly swallowed the drugs while being chased by police in Essex and has since rejected laxatives and an X-ray but has continued to eat and drink. | Lamarr Chambers, 24, allegedly swallowed the drugs while being chased by police in Essex and has since rejected laxatives and an X-ray but has continued to eat and drink. |
| Essex Police officers have been tweeting daily updates of the operation they described as “poo watch” since the man was arrested in Harlow on 17 January. | Essex Police officers have been tweeting daily updates of the operation they described as “poo watch” since the man was arrested in Harlow on 17 January. |
| He has been charged with two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. | He has been charged with two counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply. |
| Police said they would continue to apply to court for custody extensions until he empties his bowels or allows doctors to retrieve the package he is suspected of swallowing. | Police said they would continue to apply to court for custody extensions until he empties his bowels or allows doctors to retrieve the package he is suspected of swallowing. |
| Chelmsford Magistrates' Court has now been told that Mr Chambers was being kept in a normal prison cell with two police officers with him at all times and has therefore not had the privacy to use the toilet. | Chelmsford Magistrates' Court has now been told that Mr Chambers was being kept in a normal prison cell with two police officers with him at all times and has therefore not had the privacy to use the toilet. |
| Police officers were in court to get an extension on Mr Chambers’ time in custody and said that he was in charge of his fate, the BBC reported. | Police officers were in court to get an extension on Mr Chambers’ time in custody and said that he was in charge of his fate, the BBC reported. |
| His defence lawyers claimed there was “the potential of something going seriously wrong. We're in an arena of risk of death". | His defence lawyers claimed there was “the potential of something going seriously wrong. We're in an arena of risk of death". |
| They added that the drugs that Mr Chambers had allegedly swallowed was not necessarily crucial evidence. | They added that the drugs that Mr Chambers had allegedly swallowed was not necessarily crucial evidence. |
| The magistrates said they were confident Mr Chambers' life was not at risk and that he should be monitored by police - not only for evidence gathering - but also his own health and that police detention was justified. | The magistrates said they were confident Mr Chambers' life was not at risk and that he should be monitored by police - not only for evidence gathering - but also his own health and that police detention was justified. |
| The situation has been described as "unprecedented" and the previous record for avoiding emptying the bowels was thought to have been 33 days. | The situation has been described as "unprecedented" and the previous record for avoiding emptying the bowels was thought to have been 33 days. |