Derbyshire man cleared of Tinder and Plenty of Fish rape charges admits possession of a taser and producing ecstasy

A Buxton man who had been charged with rape offences has been spared prison after admitting a raft of firearms and drugs charges.
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Daniel Hibberts had his home searched by police in July after two separate allegations of rape were made against him.

It had been alleged that Hibberts, 41, of Williamson Avenue, Buxton, had used dating websites Tinder and Plenty of Fish to target his victims.

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Hibberts had been charged with raping a woman in Chesterfield on July 17 and a second charge of raping a woman in Buxton between 2016 and 2019.

Daniel Hibberts appeared before Derby Crown CourtDaniel Hibberts appeared before Derby Crown Court
Daniel Hibberts appeared before Derby Crown Court

But last week, prosecutor Sarah Knight told Derby Crown Court that, after review, both have now been discontinued.

However, during the search police found evidence that Hibbert had been importing gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) - a chemical compound used in the production of gamma--hydroxybutyric (GHB), commonly known as ecstasy, which the defendant had been ‘cooking up’ in his own kitchen.

At a sentencing hearing on Monday, October 19, Ms Knight told the court that it was accepted that the ecstasy was largely for Hibberts’ personal use, but he was supplying the drug to a small number of associates to fund his own habit.

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When police searched his home address, police also found cannabis worth around £1,000, and a small amount of cannabis oil and cocaine.

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Under a sink they also found a taser and ammunition, although the weapon was not working, the court heard.

“In relation to the taser and ammunition, he said he had been given them by a friend years ago and they were effectively a toy,” Ms Knight told the court. “The taser was subject to examination and it was found not to be in full working order.”

Hibberts admitted possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition, as well as seven drugs offences when he appeared before the court via videolink.

A tenth charge of production of cannabis will lie on file.

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Mitigating, Sonal Ahya said that Hibberts had already spent three months on remand because he was initially arrested on more serious charges, and had subsequently lost his job.

“Three months in custody is not a long period of time but it has been a very difficult period of time for him because of the current climate, and because he was remanded at the outset for much more serious allegations of an entirely different nature.

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“These were investigated and the crowd decided not to proceed and he lost the job he had held down as a consequence of being remanded into custody.”

Sentencing Hibberts to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Shaun Smith told him: “You were running a small operation from your own kitchen, and that involved you importing GBL from Holland and producing GHB. It wasn’t a sophisticated operation but it was a determined one and you put drugs out into the community.”

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He also ordered Hibberts to complete a total of 240 hours of unpaid work, and ruled that the taser and ammunition should be forfeited and destroyed.

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