A Suffolk taxi driver who took “glamour” shots of two teenage girls after plying them with drugs and alcohol has been jailed for four and a half years.

Amateur photographer Stephen Dove met the girls, who were aged 18 and 19, in the course of giving them lifts in his taxi and after offering to take “glamour” pictures of them had offered them cocaine and Ecstasy, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

After being given drugs one of the girls was not aware of anything until she arrived at the home of a friend and was found to have a number of cuts and grazes on her body where she had fallen over because of the state she was in.

Police were contacted in August 2011 and during their investigation discovered that another young girl had agreed to have photographs taken by 49-year-old Dove on three occasions and each time had been offered drugs and alcohol.

Dove, of Granthan Avenue, Great Cornard, admitted three offences of offering to supply cocaine, supplying Ecstasy and possession of cannabis.

Jailing him for four and a half years, Judge John Holt said Dove had met the two teenagers in the course of giving them lifts and they had individually agreed to pose for “glamour” pictures.

He said Dove had taken one of the girls to a pub where she had two glasses of wine and he had then given her a “Jagerbomb” drink in the car park and some white powder.

Dove had driven around before giving the girl some more alcohol and drugs and taking photographs of her. He said the girl had some experience of taking drugs previously but on this occasion the combination of alcohol and drugs resulted in her not being able to remember what had happened to her.

Judge Holt said when Dove’s camera was seized by police, officers found a couple of topless pictures of the girl. In addition there were what the judge described as some “compromising” pictures of the girl who appeared to be extremely drunk.

“One wonders why these pictures were taken as they are clearly very embarrassing for any young woman,” said the judge.

He said the girl was later seen covered in cuts and bruises as a result of falling over because of her being incapable of walking.

“It seems to me you used your taxi business to meet these 18 and 19-year-old young women,” said the judge. He accepted that Dove had supplied the drugs for “titillation” and not for financial gain.

Samantha Leigh, for Dove, said one of the girls had asked him to take pictures of her so that she could send some away and give some to her boyfriend.

She said Dove was of previous good character and his son was seriously ill.

She said Dove had taken photographs as a hobby for some time and one of his models had gone on to do professional modelling in Australia.

After yesterday’s case Detective Inspector David Giles, of Suffolk police, said: “This individual was a trusted taxi driver and businessman who preyed on young women and took advantage of them, leaving them in a vulnerable situation where anything could have happened to them.”