Drug dealer’s sentence reduced for naming suppliers

Drug dealer’s sentence reduced for naming suppliers

Ralph Lloyd Simon, a 65-year-old former carpenter, was arrested after States police and Customs officers searched his St Peter home last December and found substantial quantities of cannabis and MDMA, around £57,000 in cash, two shotguns and 43 rounds of ammunition.

Following the search the defendant was taken to police headquarters where he was interviewed and was ‘extremely open and candid’ about his involvement in the supply of cannabis and his own daily personal drug use.

Simon told officers that he used drugs to self-medicate for various ailments and that he took cocaine in the morning to give himself a ‘lift’ and used cannabis at the end of the day to ‘chill’.

He also admitted that he had sold drugs to friends and acquaintances over the past eight years and his customers were mature individuals, many with ailments themselves, the Superior Number of the Royal Court heard.

Simon pleaded guilty to nine drugs charges, as well as three offences under the Firearms (Jersey) Law and was jailed for two years – 18 months less than what he would have received if he had not agree to name his associates.

Outlining the firearms offences, Crown Advocate Richard Pedley said that the weapons were two ‘rusty’ shotguns that had not been fired in many years.

The ammunition – 43 rounds of .38 bullets manufactured in 1947 – were found in a tub and were designed to be fired by a revolver, but no such weapon was found.

Advocate David Steenson, defending, appealed to the court to impose a community service order, saying that his client had two unwell elderly parents who relied on him and his brother to help them with daily life.

And, referring to character references, Advocate Steenson described Simon as a ‘good man’ and ‘the type of individual who would be the first to buy a round in a public house’.

Delivering the sentence, Commissioner Sir Michael Birt, presiding, said that it was always sad to see a man of good character in the dock but the court could not avoid imposing a jail term.

Refering to Simon’s co-operation with authorities, Sir Michael said: ‘We would have insisted on a sentence of 3½ years but you have named your suppliers and buyers and said that you will give evidence in future cases.

‘When a prisoner will give such assistance it encourages others to do so and the court gives an added reduction as it will help authorities in the fight against drugs.’

Sir Michael was sitting with Jurats Collette Crill, Anthony Olsen, Jerry Ramsden, Elizabeth Dulake and Robert Kerley.

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