A MAN accused of being involved in a drugs plot unearthed by police probing a Millom teenager's death has gone on trial.

Michael Mountfort, 42, denies allegedly conspiring to supply class A drugs between April and August last year.

Carlisle Crown Court heard today how Mountfort was arrested at the Kendal Calling music festival on July 31.

He was detained after police launched an inquiry into the death of another festivalgoer.

Eighteen-year-old Christian Pay, of Millom, died in hospital after falling ill at the site near Penrith.

It is alleged that Mountfort conspired with another man, 21-year-old Luke Fraser, to supply illegal substances.

Jurors have heard Fraser admits being part of a conspiracy.

Opening the case, Nigel Booth, prosecuting, said: "The case against Michael Mountfort is that he went to the Kendal Calling festival last year, and the text message evidence that you will hear shows communication in the lead up to the festival between him and a man called Luke Fraser.

"The prosecution say that the text message evidence is clear in its meaning; that these two men were combining in order to arrange for unlawful drugs to be obtained so that - the prosecution say the inference is clear - at the festival they could be sold."

Fraser sold drugs to 21-year-old Millom man Simon Chapman, who also admits a conspiracy charge.

"In time Mr Chapman supplied them to a group of friends, one of whom was a man by the name of Christian Pay," said Mr Booth.

"Mr Pay was subsequently taken ill, was taken to hospital at Carlisle and later died. And so the police began an inquiry into what had happened."

Illegal substances - including the amphetamine PMA, cocaine and ecstasy - were seized both from Fraser's tent and the car in which he had travelled to the festival with Mountfort.

In evidence, Mountfort accepted he knew Fraser was planning to supply illegal drugs at Kendal Calling.

He said he had merely offered drug "advice" in text traffic with Fraser, and denied the pair were plotting.

A man of good character, Mountfort was asked by his lawyer, Phillip Boyd: "Were you being part of a conspiracy, an agreement to be involved in the purchase of these (class A drugs) for re-sale?"

Mountfort, of Oak Drive, Denton, Manchester, replied: "No. I was not."

The trial continues.