TWO teenagers who tried to smuggle Class A drugs into York have been spared jail because police have apparently done nothing to catch their more guilty accomplice, York Crown Court heard.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC said talented artist Mica Dunning and undergraduate Daniel Middleton had played lesser roles than the third person, referred to in court only as "J", in the conspiracy to import Ecstasy.

Nick Adlington, prosecuting, told him: "This is every parent's worst nightmare, where their teenage children are drawn into the darker regions of the internet."

The two youngsters started selling Ecstasy to their chat group and social media friends when they were 16 and continued for nine months until UK Border staff intercepted a drugs consignment at Coventry.

The package of 257 tablets ordered online from the Netherlands was addressed to Dunning's home and contained 50 tablets ordered by Middleton and 200 ordered by "J". The court heard that Middleton had put in at least one previous order in November 2014 when he would still have been 16 years old.

"J" was not in the dock when the two teenagers, now 18, were sentenced.

The judge told them that had they been adults when they committed their crimes they would have faced a five-year sentence but that he had cut their sentences considerably because of their age and their guilty pleas.

He added: "I am further very much influenced by the fact that another, "J", who in my judgement was more heavily involved that both of you, has not only not been prosecuted, he has not even been interviewed in respect of these matters.

"I hope and trust each of you have learnt your lesson."

York Press:

He suspended prison sentences of 12 months on Middleton and seven on Dunning on condition they do unpaid hours of work and do not commit any offences in the next two years.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman declined to say anything about the lack of police action, other than: "We respect the decision of the court in this case."

Middleton, of Dikelands Close, Upper Poppleton, who has to do 150 hours' unpaid work, and Dunning, of Barbara Grove, Holgate, who has to do 100 hours' unpaid work, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle Ecstasy into the country between June 14 and July 21, 2015, and being concerned in the supply of Ecstasy between October 11, 2014 and July 21, 2015.

Dunning's defence team handed in artwork she had done that the judge said had impressed him so much, he had shown it to York's number two judge, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC.

For Middleton, Laura Miller said his parents had found out about his drug use before his arrest and given him a choice between joining the Army or "bucking up his ideas". He had chosen to improve his poor academic results and had been so successful he was now doing a four-year MA course at university with good early results.

He had also done voluntary work with a furniture charity and had been working until the court case cost him his job.