AG -v- Tomsett [2016] JRC 166D (21 September 2016)
- Citation
- [2016] JRC 166D
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Jersey
- Posture
- Criminal / Sentencing
More details
- Posture
- Criminal / Sentencing
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The defendant, acting as a courier for financial reward, was knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importation of a substantial quantity of cannabis resin. Mitigation factors warranted reduction from the starting point of 9 years to 5 years' imprisonment.
Court disposition
convicted and sentenced
Orders
- Confiscation Order in the sum of £135.71
- Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs
- Sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment
02
Material facts
Parties
Unknown (Defendant)
DefendantAttorney General (Crown)
ProsecutorAmounts and remedies
- Quantity of Cannabis Resin: 28.8
- Wholesale Price (minimum): GBP 115,000
- Wholesale Price (maximum): GBP 172,000
- Retail Value (minimum): GBP 432,000
- Retail Value (maximum): GBP 576,000
- Confiscation Benefit: GBP 575.69
- Confiscation Order: GBP 135.71
- Sentence (years): 5
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal / Sentencing
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
fraudulent evasion of prohibition on importation of controlled drug
- 02
appropriate sentencing for courier role
- 03
confiscation of proceeds
Party arguments
- Applicant
- Mitigation advanced including guilty plea, cooperation, remorse, and letters from counsel. Argued for lower starting point for sentence.
- Respondent
- Crown accepted defendant acted as courier for financial reward. Emphasized significance of courier role in drug trade.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Court's reasoning
Couriers play a significant role in the trade of unlawful drugs; without couriers, drugs would not enter Jersey.
- 02
Court's reasoning
Mitigation factors such as guilty plea, cooperation, and genuine remorse are considered in sentencing.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The defendant, acting as a courier for financial reward, was knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on importation of a substantial quantity of cannabis resin. Mitigation factors warranted reduction from the starting point of 9 years to 5 years' imprisonment.
Obiter and limits
- Were it not for couriers, drugs would not come into Jersey.
- The role of the courier is significant in the trade in unlawful drugs.
Court disposition
convicted and sentenced
- Confiscation Order in the sum of £135.71
- Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs
- Sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment
Source and reliance status
Official court record
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
Court record
Judgment
JUDGMENT THE DEPUTY BAILIFF: 1. We are sentencing you for one count of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug. The drug was cannabis resin, the quantity was 28.8 kilograms with a wholesale price of between £115,000 and £172,000 and a retail value of between £432,000 and £576,000. It was therefore on any analysis a substantial quantity. It was secreted in a car that you brought to Jersey on 1 st April this year.
2. The Crown accepts, as do we, that you were acting as a courier for financial reward. But as we have said in a case earlier today, were it not for couriers, drugs would not come into Jersey and the role of the courier is a significant one in the trade in unlawful drugs.
3. We note the mitigation that is available to you. We take into account and give full weight to your guilty plea. You were cooperative and, whilst you do not have an entirely clear record, we take nothing of relevance from it and effectively treat you as of good character. We have read with care the letters that have been provided through your counsel and we accept your remorse as genuine and we understand the reasons which have driven you to the place where you are today.
4. We deal first with confiscation and it is not opposed by you through counsel so we declare that you have benefitted from criminal conduct to the extent of £575.69 and make a Confiscation Order in the sum of £135.71.
5. Turning to sentence we take into account what has been advanced on your behalf by counsel with regard to the question of the starting point. We do not agree that the starting point should come down so much as he has urged upon us but we think that an appropriate starting point for this is a period of 9 years.
6. Taking all of the mitigation into account it is the unanimous view of the Court you should be sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment.
7. We also order the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs. Authorities Campbell and Others-v-AG [1995] JLR 136 . AG-v-Clark [2016] JRC 094B . AG-v-Brown [2008] JRC 208 . AG-v-Logan [2015] JRC 113 . AG-v-Dos Santos [2015] JRC 229 . Page Last Updated: 28 Oct 2016 BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII
Case-aware research
Ask AI about this case
The judgment and available research above are public. New questions open in a separate private conversation grounded in this case.