Gay Ex-UK Justice Minister Who Hosted ‘Chemsex’ Parties Fined For Crystal Meth Possession

A U.K. court fined former Conservative justice minister Crispin Blunt £1,200 (about $1,600) on Wednesday after he admitted possessing crystal meth, cannabis, and sedative drugs, following revelations he hosted chemsex, a sexual gathering where participants use drugs to enhance sexual activity.

The 65-year-old former Member of Parliament for Reigate, Surrey, U.K., who served from 1997 to 2024, pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing drugs at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He also received a £480 (approx. $640) victim surcharge and £200 (approx. $260) in costs, The Guardian reported. Blunt represented himself in court and told the bench he had originally considered a jury trial to argue that drug possession should not be a criminal offence.

In a 30-minute statement, he criticized the legal system, saying politicians take the easy moral stance that drugs are bad and illegal, without considering the serious problems that approach causes. He suggested that his advocacy on drug policy reform, trans rights, and support for Palestinians may have contributed to the decision to charge him, according to Sky News.

Prosecutor Zarah Dickinson said Blunt’s actions stemmed from his professional experience in government. She said that after coming out as gay, Blunt saw first-hand the harm caused by the government’s drug policy during his time as justice minister. Dickinson added that Blunt later took part in the chemsex scene and that his personal experience with drugs helped shape his ideas on government drug policies, Sky News reported.