A DRUGS wizard jailed for 20 years after developing a chemistry lab in Ovingdean has told of his “awesome” time in prison.

American Casey Hardison, 43, set up a sophisticated drugs laboratory to make hallucinogenic drugs worth up to £5 million.

In 2004 he was arrested at the Sanctuary Cafe in Hove and went on to represent himself in court.

He was jailed for 20 years after a 10-week trial at Hove Crown Court, but was released after nine years and deported to America last year.

Hardison told Vice Magazine: “It’s not brutalised like the American correctional system, where the oppression of the officers turns to the oppression of the inmates, who then oppress other vulnerable people.

“I was single cell most of the time, so that was a godsend. I had a toilet with a lid I could put down. I had hot and cold running water. I was living better than two-thirds of the planet.

“There were times when there was emotional and psychological suffering, but not very much.

“For me, I thought it was an awesome opportunity. Once I accepted the powerlessness of not being able to alter my prison sentence, it turned into this extraordinary opportunity to study and understand myself.

“I got to study physics, law and mathematics, watch the BBC and read The Times, The Economist and New Scientist every week.”