A drug dealer who claimed to be a 'pharmacist' has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after the death of an Indian-origin University of Cambridge student.
Benjamin Brown was tracked down by the Cambridgeshire Police after officers found 20-year-old Keshava Iyengar dead in a friend's room at Trinity College, Cambridge University, in March 2021.
A coroner’s report later concluded that Iyengar’s death was drug-related and the police investigation uncovered messages on his phone from a drug dealer called “Lean Xan Man.”
Officers identified “Lean Xan Man” as 32-year-old Brown from Guildford in Surrey.
“Brown was running a huge operation from his bedroom in Surrey, which had tragic consequences,” said detective constable Dan Harper from Cambridgeshire Police, who investigated the case.
“It is not possible to prove that Brown’s actions caused the death of Keshava, but you can say with certainty that drugs ruin lives and there is a reason why some can only be prescribed by a medical professional. This is why it continues to be a priority for police in Cambridgeshire,” he said.
The Huntingdon Law Courts, where he was sentenced last week, heard that Brown described himself as a "pharmacist" selling a variety of prescription-only drugs through Instagram and Snapchat.
He was arrested in July 2021 and a search of his home uncovered drugs, more than £15,000 in cash and sticky labels with his “business logo”.
Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of banned and controlled substances – supply of Class A drugs, two counts in the supply of Class C, one count in the supply of Class B, possession of Class A and possession with intent to supply Class C.
According to the police, the judge presiding over the case described Brown’s drug dealing business as “substantial, sophisticated and lucrative.” He said through greed he had “profited from the vulnerabilities of others dependent on prescription medication for conditions such as anxiety.”
(PTI)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)