A convicted killer was caught selling cocaine at a Cotswolds music festival.

Lloyd Smythe, 36, who in 2015 was jailed for more than five years for the manslaughter of a charity fundraiser near Tower Bridge, was spotted by security guards at the Wilderness Festival in Charlbury, touting nitrous oxide balloons to festivalgoers.

When his tent was searched, the guards discovered cocaine worth around £800 and other party drugs worth another £900.

Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Monday (January 30), Smythe, of the Tabard Garden Estate, south east London, pleaded guilty to a single count of possession with intent to supply a class A drug.

Prosecuting, Robert Lindsey told Recorder John Ryder KC that the defendant had been due to stand trial next week accused of dealing the cocaine and a number of other drugs.

The plea to the class A drug dealing was acceptable to the Crown Prosecution Service and no trial was necessary on the remaining charges, he said.

Mr Lindsey said security officers spotted Smythe selling nitrous oxide balloons on August 6 at the Cornbury Park-based festival.

The security guards tailed him back to his tent, where they found a ‘cache’ of drugs. Also discovered was cash and a mobile found later found to contain text messages arranging to sell his illegal wares at the music event.

The drugs found included 88 tablets of a substance called CMC, sometimes used to pad-out ecstasy, 2.8g of cocaine split into 21 grip-sealed deal bags, nitrous oxide cannisters and ketamine.

A police drugs expert estimated the total street value of the various substances to be £1,700, with the cocaine reckoned to be worth around £800.

The court heard he had nine previous convictions, including one in 2011 for supplying class A drugs.

In 2015, he was jailed for five-and-a-half years, having admitted the manslaughter of charity fundraiser Tommy Blackmore. The 20-year-old victim was killed by a single blow after he was caught up in a fight on Queen Elizabeth Street, near Tower Bridge.

A judge in Oxford heard on Monday that, since his release from prison, Smythe had undertaken a number of courses and qualifications in gas work. References from family members spoke of him as a kind, considerate, helpful and caring man.

“He is deeply remorseful for the commission of this offence,” his barrister told the court.

Jailing him for three-and-a-half years, Recorder Ryder urged Smythe to ‘carry on this rehabilitation’. “It’s in your interests as much as anybody else’s,” he added.

Police welcomed the sentence. Investigating officer PC Sarah Finch said: “Thames Valley Police is committed to tackling drugs supply, which supports organised crime and is closely linked to exploitation and violence.”