Richards's notoriety for illicit drug use stems in part from several drug busts during the late 1960s and 1970s and his candour about using heroin and other substances. Richards has been tried on drug-related charges five times: in 1967, twice in 1973, in 1977, and in 1978. The first trialthe only one culminating in a prison sentence – resulted from a February 1967 police raid on Redlands, Richards's Sussex estate, where he and some friends, including Jagger, were spending the weekend. The subsequent arrest of Richards and Jagger put them on trial before the British courts, whilst also trying them in the court of public opinion. On 29 June 1967, Jagger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for possession of four amphetamine tablets. Richards was found guilty of allowing cannabis to be smoked on his property and sentenced to one year in prison. Both Jagger and Richards were imprisoned at that point: Jagger was taken to Brixton Prison in south London, and Richards to Wormwood Scrubs Prison in west London. Both were released on bail the next day pending appeal. On 1 July, The Times ran an editorial entitled "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?", portraying Jagger's sentence as persecution, and public sentiment against the convictions increased. A month later the appeals court overturned Richards's conviction for lack of evidence, and gave Jagger a conditional discharge.
richards's notoriety for illicit drug use stems in part from several drug busts during the late 1960s and 1970s and his candour about using heroin and other substances richards has been tried on drug-related charges five times in 1967 twice in 1973 in 1977 and in 1978 the first trialthe only one culminating in a prison sentence – resulted from a february 1967 police raid on redlands richards's sussex estate where he and some friends including jagger were spending the weekend the subsequent arrest of richards and jagger put them on trial before the british courts whilst also trying them in the court of public opinion on 29 june 1967 jagger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for possession of four amphetamine tablets richards was found guilty of allowing cannabis to be smoked on his property and sentenced to one year in prison both jagger and richards were imprisoned at that point jagger was taken to brixton prison in south london and richards to wormwood scrubs prison in west london both were released on bail the next day pending appeal on 1 july the times ran an editorial entitled "who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel" portraying jagger's sentence as persecution and public sentiment against the convictions increased a month later the appeals court overturned richards's conviction for lack of evidence and gave jagger a conditional discharge