The trio were jailed for a total of 17½ years for their involvement in the failed plot to import high-strength batches of MDMA on two occasions worth more than £22,000 and funnel the funds out of the Island.
UK-based organiser Michael Anthony Hall (33) and courier Zoe Louise Myers (35), both from Bury, were sentenced to eight and five years respectively. Their Jersey-based contact Kaine Richard Whittingham (22) was sentenced to 4½ years in prison.
Crown Advocate Richard Pedley, prosecuting, told the Royal Court’s Superior Number, which convenes only for the most serious offences: ‘This was the start of a drug-trafficking scheme that would have continued and expanded had the arrests not been made.’
It was the Crown’s case that the criminal group had links to Guernsey too. Messages recovered by officers from Myers’ phone showed Hall asking her if any of her prints would be on deal bags linked to an operation in Guernsey.
‘Some 14-year-old has got hold of some apparently and ended up putting himself in hospital, but the news shown the bags [redacted] used, as long as you didn’t touch them bags that’s all I’m bothered about,’ the message read.
The court heard that Whittingham would travel to Guernsey regularly to visit his long-term girlfriend and another contact who was known to both Myers and Hall. It was also heard that Myers had travelled back from the island on one occasion carrying £1,500 cash – suspected to be linked to drugs crime.
However, none of the charges brought related to drug crime in Guernsey.
Outlining the case, Advocate Pedley said the conspiracy involved two importations – a successful one on 5 September 2018 and another where Myers was caught on 11 October.
It was heard that Customs officers found a condom filled with white powder in her bag when she arrived at the Airport. Three other packages, hidden internally, were later recovered. The drugs, which were about 76% pure, were valued at £11,200 if sold on the streets. The total value of the conspiracy is based on the first, successful import being of similar value to the drugs found.
In interview, Myers gave a full and frank account about the operation and those involved. Crown Advocate Pedley acknowledged this played a significant role in the investigation.
Delivering sentence, Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith said: ‘The danger of class A drugs to society are demonstrated by the recent death of a 19-year-old man.’
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending Hall, questioned the Crown’s position that her client, who ditched a career as a self-employed electrician in an effort to make ‘easy money’, was the lead figure in the operation given he was only due to make between ‘£1,800 and £2,000’ from the scheme.
‘He was not a prime mover in the drug world,’ she added.
Advocate James Bell, defending Myers, said his client had suffered significant trauma in the past and saw her involvement in the drugs game as a way of ‘getting as far away as possible’ from elements of her past which existed where she lived. The court acknowledged her co-operation in criminal proceedings and also that she suffers from PTSD.
‘The policy of the court has always been to award co-operation,’ said Mr Clyde-Smith.
Advocate Pedley acknowledged that details of Myers’ past made for ‘harrowing’ reading.
Defending Whittingham, Advocate Christopher Austin said his client got involved with selling drugs to raise money so he could move to Guernsey to be with his long-term girlfriend.
All of the defendants admitted one count of being involved in a conspiracy to supply class A drugs and three counts of money laundering. Whittingham also admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possession of the class B drug.
Jurats Collette Crill, Jane Ronge, Pamela Pitman, Steven Austin-Vautier and Gareth Hughes were sitting.
